Which strait separates the North American mainland from Vancouver Island and opens into the Pacific Ocean?

The Strait of Juan de Fuca separates Vancouver Island from the North American mainland and opens into the Pacific Ocean.

It forms part of the international boundary between Canada and the United States. Washington State lies to the south, while Vancouver Island lies to the north. The strait is about 150 kilometres long and leads eastward toward the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound.

The waterway was named after Juan de Fuca, the Greek pilot who claimed to have served the Spanish crown. The name became associated with the strait through later European maps and exploration, although the historical account of Juan de Fuca’s voyage is debated.

The Strait of Juan de Fuca differs from the Strait of Georgia, which lies farther east between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. Major ports, ferries, fishing vessels, and naval traffic use the strait, and its exposed western entrance can experience rough Pacific weather.