Creston (pop. 4000; 611 m (2005 ft)) in the broad Kootenay Valley, surrounded by long snow-covered peaks, lies in the midst of fields of corn, strawberries and vegetables as well as fruit plantations. This land, once swamps and damp meadows, was dyked and drained at the end of the last century. Every year prior to this the untamed Kootenay River
had flooded wide expanses of the fertile valley floor. By 1930 80 km (50 mi.) of dams had been thrown up and 10,000 ha (250,000 acres) of arable land reclaimed. Today Creston proudly calls itself the "Fruit-basket of the Kootenays" and boasts its own corn warehouses in the south of British Columbia just like those of the Canadian prairie regions.
The dams are now a favorite spot for walks and strolls.
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