Massive American aircraft carrier visits Vancouver Island

CTV Vancouver: USS Nimitz visits Vancouver Island Giant aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and 3000 sailors visit Esquimalt.

ESQUIMALT, B.C. -- Victoria has a lot of tourists this weekend thanks to a visit from one of the world's largest warships.

The U.S.S. Nimitz is anchored near the Canadian navy base in Esquimalt near B.C.'s capital.

The Nimitz is stopping in Victoria this weekend before conducting trials and testing at the Canadian military's test range in Nanoose Bay.

The nuclear powered aircraft carrier is 316 metres long with a flight deck that is nearly 77 metres wide.

It operates roughly 80 aircraft and has a crew of roughly 2,200.

On top of sightseeing some of those crew members are serving lunch at a Victoria homeless shelter and will compete in sporting events with members of the Canadian navy.