Port Alberni Geography
 Port Alberni Harbour
Topography Nestled at the foot of the Vancouver Island Ranges, Port Alberni is shadowed to the east by Mount Arrowsmith, which at 1819m/5967ft is the highest peak on the island's southern half. The Alberni Valley was carved out by glacial activity and the oldest rocks in the area date from the Middle Devonian period approximately 400 million years ago. Limestone karst formations are commonplace here as in other parts of the island, and the caving is particularly good in the Sproat Lake area.
Rivers & Lakes The Alberni Inlet is fed from the north by Sonomass and Stamp river systems. The Sonomass begins at the foot of town and links up with Sproat Lake, a large body of water stretching along the Pacific Rim Highway (#4) on the road west to Tofino and Ucluelet. The Stamp River connects with the southend of Great Central Lake, the largest lake on Vancouver Island with an area of 20sq mi/52sq km. From the lake's western tip, Drinkwater Creek leads to Della Falls (the highest waterfall in North America) at the southern extreme of Strathcona Provincial Park. Climate and Weather Unlike other coastal regions of Vancouver Island, summers in Port Alberni can sometimes be as warm as the BC interior – hot days cooled somewhat by the gusty winds that reliably brew up each afternoon. The average high temperature in July and August is 76°F/24.4°C. The winters are wet – approximately 1500mm/59in of rain falls between October and March – and temperatures hover above the freezing mark. Contact the Port Alberni Visitor Centre for more information about the area's geography, climate, and weather.
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