British Columbia Attractions

The Rocky Mountains, forming the eastern border of the province of Alberta, are relatively young mountains, having folded in the Tertiary period, and based on sediment from the Triassic and Jurassic periods. During the Pleistocene Age British Columbia, like North and Central Europe, was completely covered in ice. Traces of the four Ice Ages can still be seen in the shape of numerous glaciers, for example in the Columbia Icefield near the border with Alberta, which covers an area of 389 sq. km (150 sq. mi.) and is still 1000 m (3300 ft) thick. The main ridge of the Rockies also forms the water-shed of Canada. Thus British Columbia is the only province which drains into the Pacific Ocean; by comparison, 66 per cent of Canada's land surface drains into the Arctic Ocean. The highest mountain in the Rockies is Mount Robson, 3954 m (12,977 ft) high. As a result of the mountain structure the river network is very ramified. The Fraser River is 1360 km (845 mi.) long and the Columbia 1840 km (1143 mi.).

The individual mountain chains which make up the Canadian Cordilleras have a marked influence on the climate of British Columbia. On the western sides the rainfall is generally very heavy; for example, Prince Rupert has 2330 mm (91.7in.) per annum, Vancouver 1460 mm (57.5 in.). In the lee of the mountains, on the other hand, there are some very dry pockets, such as Kamloops with 268 mm (10.5 in.) per annum and Penticton with 300 mm (11.8 in.). Winters generally mean a lot of snow, up to 5 m (17 ft), although there are some valleys which see very little in the way of snow. In the interior of British Columbia, shielded by the mountains, the climate is quite continental, with short, very hot summers and long, extremely cold winters; Kamloops, for example, has an average January minimum of -10°C (14°F), and an average maximum in July of 29°C (83°F). The coast is blessed with the Kuro Schio, a warm ocean current producing really mild temperatures; Vancouver, for instance, has an average January minimum of 0°C (32°F) and an average maximum of 24°C (74°F) in July, while Prince Rupert's average January minimum is -1°C (31°F), July maximum 17°C (62°F).

British Columbia's natural vegetation is determined largely by the high mountains. Coniferous forest predominates, changing to tundra and glaciated regions as one goes higher. The offshore islands, like the whole of the Pacific coast, are heavily wooded, mainly with coniferous trees. Here are still found large expanses of temperate coastal rain forest harbouring some of the oldest and largest fir trees in the world. These primeval woodlands, exceptionally valuable not only in resource terms but also from an ecological point of view, are today under threat from Canada's profit-orientated timber industry. The hot summers in the valleys and the low rainfall result in steppe-like vegetation where - with adequate irrigation (see The Okanagan) - even fruit such as peaches and apricots can be grown.

In the 17th c. Spanish mariners sailed northwards up the Pacific coast and discovered British Columbia, which until then had for thousands of years been inhabited only by native Indians. In 1778 James Cook was the first white man to set foot on Vancouver Island. In that same year Capt. John Meares founded the first English settlement of Nootka, but this had to be ceded to Spain on the grounds of old claims held by the latter. In 1790 the Spaniards renounced their claims, however, and Capt. George Vancouver was able to take possession of the island for Great Britain. Alexander Mackenzie was the first white man to reach the Pacific by the land route in 1793, to be followed by Simon Fraser and David Thompson, after whom the largest rivers in the province are named.

In British Columbia too the "49th parallel" was made the border between Canada and the United States, in accordance with the terms of the Oregon Treaty. In 1849 Vancouver Island was declared a Crown Colony. Seven years later important gold finds attracted large numbers of adventurers and settlers to Fraser Valley and Barkerville. In 1886 the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island off the coast were merged and joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871. Victoria was made the capital of this new province. Between 1923 and 1926 organised immigration from Europe led to further settlements being established in the province. Following the Japanese occupation of the Aleutians during the Second World War the United States decided in 1942 to build a land route to Alaska, the present Alaskan Highway, which runs from Dawson Creek B.C. to Fairbanks, Alaska. The east-west link was improved in 1962 by the completion of the TransCanada Highway. In 1986 the World Exhibition was held in Vancouver.

British Columbia has a relatively high population density compared with other areas of Canada. However, there is a marked fall in population as one moves northward, and the inhabitants are concentrated in a very few towns and centres, with half the population in the Vancouver conurbation alone. The original native inhabitants were basically of two types, the Salish and the Kutenai, who lived mainly from hunting in the interior. In contrast to the Indians in the north-west of British Columbia they are nomads. Those living on the coast - including the Tlingits and the Wakashans - rely mainly on the resources of the sea and live in permanent settlements. 4.4 per cent of the population of British Columbia are the original native Indians, i.e. about a sixth of the total Canadian native population. While almost 80 per cent of the white population live in towns and cities only 40 per cent of the Indians do so, mainly as a result of the fact that their small settlements are well organised and are almost urban in character.

British Columbia is one of Canada's richest provinces. The main branches of its economy are forestry, fishing, mining and tourism.

In addition to the lumber industry, fishing is also of great importance. As well as five different species of salmon there is also herring, a large per cent of which is exported to Japan. Aquaculture is also important, breeding mainly salmon, but also trout, prawns and mussels.

In contrast to the "prairie states", agriculture plays only a minor role. A small amount of corn is grown in the north-east near Peace River, and fruit and vine cultivation plays is quite important in the valleys to the south. The main mines are those producing coal, stretching from the south-east to the north-west of Alberta across British Columbia to the Yukon Territory. Hydro-electric power and natural gas provide the bulk of energy requirements, while crude oil has to be imported from Alberta. Its position on the Pacific means that British Columbia is ideally situated to trade with Asia and Australia. The varied leisure facilities make tourism an important economic factor for British Columbia.

Its unspoiled mountains, extensive forests and numerous lakes make British Columbia a paradise for sports lovers of every ilk. Those keen on water-sports are catered for by numerous lakes and charming rivers, with paddling on lonely lakes to rafting on the rivers. The unique fiord-like coastline is ideal for sailing, while swimming in the Pacific is a question of taste, in spite of the warm ocean currents. In contrast, the hot sun raises the temperatures of the lakes further inland almost to those of a swimming-pool.

For fishermen the salmon spawning season in August and September offers fantastic sport. Every conceivable variety of fish can be caught in the many lakes and rivers.

The varied nature of the countryside makes British Columbia an ideal place for walking, especially in the national and provincial parks where North America's natural charms are there to be enjoyed. After a tiring day it is so refreshing to relax in a hot spring. For horse-lovers there are wonderful opportunities to hire a horse on a ranch. For anyone wishing to try their hand at golf Canada is the place, because equipment can be hired at any golf-club. In winter thousands of sports are available. The ski resort of Whistler 125 km (76 mi.) from Vancouver and home to the 2010 winter Olympics, offers ski-runs of varying degrees of difficulty. There are ample sports opportunities for visitors from Europe to enjoy, and the numerous tourist bureaux scattered throughout the province will be glad to assist in all matters relating to leisure pursuits.