Clayoquot Sound is a magnificent, biologically rich, mostly wilderness area on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It encompasses 350,000 hectares of land and ocean.
A view of Clayoquot Sound. Photo by Diego A. Garcia
The land portion of Clayoquot Sound is 265,000 hectares (2,650 square kilometers or 1,000 square miles), comprising about 8% of Vancouver Island. It is covered with ancient temperate rainforest, a globally rare forest type. The remaining 85,000 hectares of Clayoquot Sound consist of ocean — narrow inlets of the Pacific Ocean, into which empty rivers and lakes.
Clayoquot Sound occupies a straight-line distance along the coast of 90 kilometers, between Barkley and Nootka Sounds. It reaches a maximum of 35 kilometres inland, up to the crest of snow-capped mountains. These mountains are part of the central spine of Vancouver Island and form the headwaters of the rivers that drain Clayoquot Sound.
The "Sound" portion of the region's name indicates an indented section of coastline, with numerous inlets and islands. "Clayoquot" — pronounced KLAK-wot — comes from Tla-o-qui-aht, the name of one of the First Nations tribes who live here.
There are 5 communities in Clayoquot Sound: the town of Tofino and 4 First Nations reserves inhabited by Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations tribes. The total population of these 5 communities is about 3,000 (in 2005).
Two well-known parks lie in Clayoquot Sound: the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park, and the southern portion of Strathcona Provincial Park. These and other parks protect one-third of Clayoquot's land area and less than one-quarter of its productive ancient forest.
Industrial activities such as logging and fish farming have occurred and continue to occur across the landscape and ocean waters of Clayoquot Sound, but most of the Sound is still wilderness — intact forest and wild ocean. The spectacular scenery attracts about one million tourists to Clayoquot each year.
Fly over Clayoquot's incredible wilderness, including the pristine valleys, while enjoying the music in our new video clip: "A Rockin Tour of Clayoquot Sound." Special thanks to rock legends Canned Heat and also to Lighthawk for donating the aerial flights.
Click on one of the following to see the video (1min 30sec):
Then visit our friends at cannedheatmusic.com and lighthawk.org
Wonderful images of Clayoquot Sound from some of the area's most renowned photographers.
In 2006, Friends' staff and volunteers explored Satchie and Hesquiat Lake Creeks – two remote wilderness valleys in northern Clayoquot Sound. The expedition was part of our ongoing campaign to protect these intact (pristine) valleys from imminent logging.
Our team visited the area as guests of the Hooksum Outdoor School, run by Steve and Karen Charleson of the Hesquiaht First Nation. With Steve as our guide, we boated from Hooksum to the north end of Hesquiat Lake, to the mouth of Satchie Creek and the mouth of neighbouring Hesquiat Lake Creek. From there, we explored the valleys on foot, bushwhacking along the creeks, taking photos and video footage.
Click here to read about the 2006 Satchie and Hesquiat Lake Creek Expedition
PO Box 489, 331 Neill St., Tofino BC V0R 2Z0
250-725-4218 info@focs.ca
About Clayoquot Sound
Map - Where is Clayoquot Sound?
Clayoquot Sound World Biosphere Reserve
What is a Temperate Rainforest?
Amazing Facts About Temperate Rainforests!
Photo Gallery: Beautiful Clayoquot Sound
Photo by Adrian Dorst
The health of the global environment depends on intact ecosystems. It is our responsibility to
act as peaceful and courageous advocates for marine and terrestrial life in Clayoquot Sound.
Please join us!
