


Victoria is a large, flat city with a downtown characterized by grandiose 19th-century buildings and many gardens scattered about its territory. It is bound by the sea on its southern and eastern borders, and on the north and west it is bounded by farmlands stretching back into the great forests of Vancouver Island.
Warmed by Pacific Ocean currents and protected by a range of mountains, Victoria enjoys mild temperatures year-round. From high 70°Fs in summer to a mild mid-40°Fs in winter, the climate is always hospitable and is on record as the sunniest in the province. Winter precipitation replenishes the surrounding rainforest, and it rarely snows except on local ski hills. Only 10% of the annual rainfall comes in the summer months.