The Columbia Mountains
Columbia Mountains, a mountain system in the southeastern part of British Columbia. The system is made up of four ranges: the Selkirk, Monashee, Cariboo, and Purcell mountains. From British Columbia's border with the United States, the Columbias extend northwest for about 375 miles (605 km). They are about 160 miles (255 km) wide and are bounded in the east by a deep valley—the Rocky Mountain Trench—and in the west by the Interior Plateau. Mount Sir Sandford, rising to 11,552 feet (3,522 m) in the Selkirk range, is the highest peak. The Trans-Canada Highway passes through the central part of the system. There are several parks in the Columbias, including Glacier and Mount Revelstoke national parks.