Osoyoos (pop. 4,5000; 277 m / 909 ft), only 6 km / 3.75 mi from the U.S. frontier, lies at the southern end of the "Canadian Desert". From here as far as Okanagan Falls, some 43 km / 27 mi to the north, stretches a northern outcrop of the semi-desert region which extends from Mexico and Arizona as far as Montana and Washington. The average
annual rainfall is less than 200 mm / 8 in, and summer temperatures between 40°C and 50°C (104°F and 122°F) are not uncommon. Keep an eye open for rattlesnakes when walking in this region.
This sandy tongue of land, known since 1811 and extending through almost the whole of Osoyoos Lake, was favored as a storage place by the Indians and fur-hunters. The first ranch was built here more than 50 years later. Around 1890 more than 20,000 cattle grazed between Keremeos and Osoyoos.
Since the early 20th c., however, intensive fruit and vegetable cultivation has formed the basis of the life of the region, aided by between 120 and 180 frost-free days each year. From March to May thousand of apricot, cherry, peach and apple trees transform the valley into a sea of blossom. The "Cherry Festival" is held every year. In summer Osoyoos Lake, with its sandy beaches and water temperatures of 24°C (75°F), is a favorite place for bathers.
This region resembles the dry areas of southern California and is also reminiscent of parts of the Iberian Peninsula; to give the place a unique appearance it was decided in 1975 to introduce a Spanish style of building. Since then the main street has been dominated by whitewashed buildings with gleaming red roofs and wrought-iron grilles.
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