The San Juan Islands were included in the United States after a near-war in the 1850's. Although they lie quite close to Vancouver Island, the border commission decided that they were east of the main channel.
The islands are rocky, scenic, and rural. The county seat is Friday Harbor, the largest community on the largest island, San Juan Islands. The islands are connected with regular ferry service to Sydney on Vancouver Island and Anacortes on the Washington mainland.
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