Burrard Inlet

1900's Map of Burrard Inlet

The Burrard Inlet is a fjord that separates Vancouver, Burnaby and the Tri-Cities from the North Shore. The Burrard Inlet was first entered by European explores in 1791.  In 1972 Captain George Vancouver, named the islet after friend and shipmate Sir Harry Burrard.

Burrard inlet is very important to the history of Vancouver and the British influence on Vancouver.  It is very easy to access by ships of any size or class, something that no all of Vancouver waterways allow. Due to this, the size of the inlet, and the protection from the open ocean, allowed the major ports of Vancouver to be developed on the Burrard Inlet. Due to the Burrard Inlet and easy access to a port, Vancouver was chosen as the terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Starting Vancouver as a terminus city and a major area for shipping in the late 19^th and early 20^th century.

From the discovery of the Inlet and the development of Vancouver to today the Burrard Inlet still serves as a major port in Vancouver. Today Burrard inlet houses, terminals for container and bulk cargo ships, grain elevators, oil refineries, recreational use for ships, and residential and commercial sites.