Introduction to Geography of British Columbia
British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada. It fronts on the Pacific Ocean and shares land boundaries with the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories. Alberta, and the states of Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. British Columbia is mainly a wilderness of great natural beauty. Although the first Europeans came to the region some 150 years ago, only a small part of the province has been developed or settled. Snowcapped mountain ranges, high rugged plateaus, vast forests, and deep, narrow river valleys create some of the most spectacular scenery in North America. The land also yields abundant natural resources, which form the basis of a prosperous and rapidly expanding economy.
British Columbia's provincial bird is the Steller's jay.British Columbia in briefGeneral informationEntered the Dominion: July 20, 1871, the 6th province.Provincial abbreviation: BC (postal).Provincial capital: Victoria, the capital of British Columbia since it became a province in 1871.Provincial motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Splendor Without Diminishment).Symbols of British ColumbiaProvincial flag and coat of arms: The provincial flag, adopted in 1960, has the same basic design as the shield in the coat of arms. The coat of arms was first adopted in 1906 and was revised in 1987. Its royal lion, crown, and Union Jack all symbolize the province’s link with the United Kingdom. The wavy blue bars and setting sun reflect the province’s western location near the Pacific Ocean. The deer and sheep represent Vancouver Island and British Columbia as former British colonies.Floral emblem: Pacific dogwood.Land and climateArea: 365,900 mi2 (947,800 km2), including 6,980 mi2 (18,070 km2) of inland water.Elevation: Highest—Mount Fairweather, 15,300 ft.(4,663 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level along the Pacific coast.Coastline: 15,985 mi (25,725 km).Record high temperature: 112 °F (44 °C) at Lytton, Lillooet, and Chinook Cove on July 16 and 17, 1941.Record low temperature: –74 °F (–59 °C) at Smith River on Jan. 31, 1947.Average July temperature: 61 °F (16 °C).Average January temperature: 18 °F (–8 °C).Average yearly precipitation: 33 in (84 cm).PeoplePopulation: 4,113,487 (2006 census).Rank among the provinces: 3rd.Density: 11 per mi2 (4 per km2), provinces average 13 per mi2 (5 per km2).Distribution: 85 percent urban, 15 percent rural.Largest cities and towns: Vancouver (578,041); Surrey (394,976); Burnaby (202,799); Richmond (174,461); Abbotsford (123,864); Coquitlam (114,565).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: nursery products, dairy products, beef cattle, chickens, fruits and vegetables.Fishing industry: salmon.Forestry: fir, pine, spruce, hemlock.Manufacturing: wood products, paper products, processed foods and beverages.Mining: natural gas, coal, copper.GovernmentProvincial governmentPremier: term of four years.Members of the Legislative Assembly: 79; terms of four years.Federal governmentMembers of the House of Commons: 36.Members of the Senate: 6.Sources of informationFor information on tourism in British Columbia, write to: Tourism BC, Box 9830, Station Provincial Government, Suite 300 - 1803 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9W5. Tourism BC's Web site at http://www.hellobc.com also provides tourist information. The British Columbia government's Web site at www.gov.bc.ca/bvprd/bc/home.do is also a useful resource.Physical Geography
British Columbia is the only province of Canada that lies on the Pacific Ocean.LandBritish Columbia consists almost entirely of high mountains and plateaus that are part of the North American Cordillera, a complex highland region covering the western part of the continent. There are two principal mountain systems within the province—the Rocky Mountains in the east and the Coast Mountains in the west.
The Rocky Mountains extend northwestward across the province from the British Columbia-Alberta border to beyond the Liard River valley. Elevations generally decrease from more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the south to less than 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in the north. Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, reaches 12,972 feet (3,954 m) in British Columbia near the Alberta border.
The Coast Mountains run the length of the British Columbia coast and extend inland up to 100 miles (160 km). Rising abruptly from the sea to elevations of more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m), they form a rugged barrier along the Pacific. Mount Waddington, the highest peak in the range, rises 13,104 feet (3,994 m) above sea level. Even higher summits mark the St. Elias Mountains on the Alaska border. Here stands 15,300-foot (4,663-m) Mount Fairweather, highest point in British Columbia.
The province's rugged, deeply indented coastline is marked by numerous glacier-carved fjords that reach far inland. Just offshore lies a maze of mountainous islands, chief of which are Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Between the Rockies and the Coast Mountains lies an area of high plateaus, mountain ranges, and deep, narrow valleys. Major features of the region include the Fraser Plateau, the Purcell, Selkirk, and Cariboo Mountains, and the northern end of the Cascade Range. Extensive lowlands occur only in the northeast, which is part of the vast Interior Plains region of North America.
British Columbia's provincial flower is the Pacific dogwood.WaterMost rivers in British Columbia flow from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, following tortuous courses marked by deep gorges, rapids, and falls. The Fraser River—the longest entirely within the province—and its chief tributary, the Thompson, drain a large part of the interior. Also important are the Columbia River and its tributary, the Kootenay, in the southeast. The Skeena and Stikine are among the rivers that cut through the Coast Mountains. A major exception to the Pacific drainage pattern is the northeast, which lies in the Arctic basin and is drained largely by the Liard, Peace, and Finlay rivers of the Mackenzie system. Many rivers have been dammed to provide hydroelectric power.
Hundreds of lakes dot British Columbia. Williston Lake, a reservoir impounded by W. A. C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River, is the largest. Major natural lakes include Atlin, Babine, Kootenay, Stuart, and Okanagan.
ClimateThe coastal area is shielded from North America's Arctic cold by high mountains and has a climate tempered by the warm Alaska Current. Summers are cool to warm, with average July temperatures around 60° F. (16° C.). Winters are mild; all months have above-freezing average temperatures. Rainfall is abundant, exceeding 100 inches (2,540 mm) a year in some coastal areas.
Inland the climate varies considerably with latitude and elevation, but summers are generally warmer, winters markedly colder, and precipitation less than along the coast. Snowfall is heavy in the mountains, especially on the western slopes of the Coast Mountains. The northeastern plains have extremely cold winters and cool summers; January temperatures average near or below 0° F. (-18° C.), July temperatures, 55° to 60° F. (13° to 16° C.).
Vegetation and WildlifeVast coniferous forests, composed mainly of firs, hemlocks, spruces, and pines, cover most of British Columbia. In some areas the conifers are mixed with deciduous trees, chiefly poplars and birches. Grasslands predominate in the northeast and on the interior plateaus.
British Columbia has highly varied and abundant wildlife. Large animals include bears, moose, caribou, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, cougars, and timber wolves. Among the numerous small mammals are mink, marten, otter, beaver, muskrat, and red fox, all valued for their fur. Hundreds of species of birds are found in the province. Some stay the year round, but many are migratory. Lakes and streams abound with fish, including char, grayling, salmon, trout, and whitefish.
British Columbia's provincial tree is the western red cedar.Interesting facts about British ColumbiaThe tallest totem pole preserved in a museum, and one of the tallest ever carved, was made in British Columbia in 1870. It stands 80 feet 6 inches (24.5 meters) high and displays the symbols of two clans, the Eagle and Wolf. The totem pole was carved by a master carver named Oyai, and erected by Chief Mountain of the Eagle clan and Chief Hladerh of the Wolf clan. It is exhibited in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.Vancouver's Nine o'Clock Gun booms every evening to let citizens set their watches.A town with the unusual name of 100 Mile House is a reminder of British Columbia's gold rush of the mid-1800's. Gold was discovered along the Fraser River in the 1850's. An English adventurer named Billy Barker then made a large strike in 1862 in the place that now bears his name, Barkerville. Thousands of prospectors headed for the area. A stagecoach traveled to the gold fields from Lillooet, which represented mile zero, and 100 Mile House was the midway mark to the gold fields. Other stops along the way became the towns of 70 Mile House and 150 Mile House.Stanley Park, in Vancouver, is one of the largest urban parks in North America. It covers 1,000 acres (400 hectares) and includes beaches, totem poles, tennis courts, cricket and rugby fields, a lighthouse, and an aquarium.Economy
The economy of British Columbia is based primarily on the exploitation and processing of its abundant natural resources.
Fur trapping was the earliest economic activity. Lumbering, mining, farming, and fishing became increasingly significant after 1850. Since World War II manufacturing and services have become the most valuable sectors of the economy. The province also has a growing tourist industry.
ManufacturingMost of British Columbia's manufacturing industries involve the processing of forest, mineral, and food products for sale in other parts of Canada and abroad, especially in the United States and Japan. The province has long been Canada's leading producer of lumber and wood products and has become a major center of paper milling, food processing, and mineral smelting and refining since the 1940's. Other large industries include metal fabricating, printing and publishing, and the production of chemicals, processed foods, and transportation equipment. Most manufacturing is concentrated in the southwest, in and around Vancouver and Victoria.
Lumberingdominated the economy before the rapid growth of manufacturing, and timber remains one of the province's most valuable natural resources. Though only a very small part of its forest land is commercially exploited, British Columbia normally provides about half of Canada's annual cut. Most of the timber, which consists mainly of conifers, is used for lumber or processed into newsprint, pulp, and plywood.
MiningGold rushes in 1858 and 1861 marked the beginning of British Columbia's mining industry. Large-scale development, however, has occurred mainly since 1900.
British Columbia is Canada's leading producer of bituminous coal, copper, and silver. By value of production, bituminous coal is the province's chief mineral. Other minerals produced include asbestos, gold, lead, molybdenum, natural gas, petroleum, sulfur, and zinc.
AgricultureAlthough farmland accounts for only 3 per cent of British Columbia's area, agriculture contributes significantly to the economy. The chief farming areas are in the northeast, in the southern valleys, and along the east coast of Vancouver Island. Dairying, the raising of beef cattle, hogs, and poultry, and the growing of fruits and vegetables account for much of the agricultural production. The Okanagan Valley is especially noted for apples and other orchard fruits. Wheat is grown in the northeast.
FishingBritish Columbia's fishing catch is one of the largest and most valuable in Canada. Salmon, caught along the coast and in river estuaries, contribute most of the value of the annual catch. Deep-sea Pacific fisheries yield sizable catches of halibut and herring (for roe). Sole, cod, flounder, and various shellfish are also among the province's catch.
TransportationMuch of British Columbia is virtually inaccessible; however, major populated areas, especially those in the south, are well served by modern means of transportation. Railways include two transcontinental lines and a provincially owned line. Among the chief roads are the Trans-Canada Highway, in the south, and the Yellowhead Highway, in the north. Both traverse the province east-west. The Alaska Highway serves the northeast.
Air transportation is well developed and serves otherwise inaccessible areas. Ferries link the offshore islands with the mainland. The Inside Passage, which follows narrow channels among the coastal islands, provides a sheltered waterway for passenger and cargo vessels. Vancouver is the chief transportation center. The city is one of Canada's leading seaports and also has one of the nation's busiest international airports.
The People
PopulationAbout 80 per cent of the people are of British ancestry. Other major groups include those of German, Scandinavian, French, Dutch, and Chinese descent. Indians number about 170,000. The population is heavily concentrated in the southeast, especially in the Vancouver and Victoria areas.
ReligionA large number of religions are represented in British Columbia. The United Church of Canada is the major church, followed by the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church.
EducationBritish Columbia has had a free and nonsectarian educational system since 1872. School attendance is compulsory from age 6 to 15. The University of British Columbia (chartered in 1908) is at Vancouver. Other institutions of higher learning include the University of Victoria; Simon Fraser University, at Burnaby; and Trinity Western University, at Langley.
Annual events in British ColumbiaJanuary-JuneKimberley Winterfest (February); Pacific Rim Whale Festival in Tofino and Ucluelet (mid-March); World Ski and Snowboard Festival in Whistler (April); Vancouver International Marathon (May); Okanagan International Children’s Festival (May); Swiftsure International Yacht Race in Victoria (late May).July-DecemberWilliams Lake Stampede (early July); Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July); Billy Barker Days in Quesnel (July); Nanaimo Marine Festival (July); International Old Time Accordion Championships in Kimberley (July); Celebration of Lights in Vancouver (July-August); World's Invitational Gold Panning Championships in Taylor (July-August); Squamish Logger Sports (July-August); Classic Boat Festival in Victoria (August-September); Ladysmith Festival of Lights (November).Government
British columbia's Parliament Buildings are in Victoria, the capital since British Columbia became a province in 1871.The provincial lieutenant governor, who is selected by the federal government, is the representative of the Crown and the federal government in the province. He or she is the official, but not actual, head of government. The lawmaking body of the province is the one-chamber Legislative Assembly. Its 79 members are elected for four-year terms. Executive power is vested in the executive council, or cabinet, which is composed of a premier and his or her ministers. The premier is selected by the political party having a majority in the Legislative Assembly. The premier in turn selects the ministers from the members of the legislature. The judiciary consists of the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the Provincial Court.
British Columbia is represented in Canada's parliament by 6 members appointed to the Senate and 32 elected to the House of Commons.