British Columbia
The Best Place on Earth
Landform Region
Topography:
Western Cordillera consists of a large range of mountains.
Split up by plateaus and valleys.
Glaciers are the only remaining glaciers in Canada
Mountain Divisions:
Rocky Mountains are only a small part of the whole mountain chain.
Consists of Coast Mountains, Interior Plateau and the Eastern Mountains.
So What?
Although transportation is difficult to get by, British Columbia’s landforms provide gold, zinc and other elements to Canada.
Offers great tourists sites and tourist attractions that help British Columbia to make money.
The Western Cordillera has features that make British Columbia one of the most unique places in Canada or in all of the world.
Climate Region
General Information:
British Columbia’s climate is influenced by the Pacific Ocean and the mountain ranges.
British Columbia has some of the wettest and some of the driest climates in all of Canada.
Regional Climates:
South coast have a mild climate year-round. Summers on the coast are warm, with daytime temperatures around 20°C. B.C.’s Coastal regions have the mildest winters in all of Canada, and temperatures rarely drop below zero.
The interior and central regions have hotter summers, with temperatures in July often reaching 30°C or more. Winters are colder and snowier than in coastal regions.
In the north, winters are long and cold with lots of snow, and summers are short. Along the north coast, there is a lot of rain in the spring, summer and fall, and the winters are cold.
Warm Months:
In the warmer months, many people like to bike, hike, swim, play sports or get out in a boat.
Winter Months:
In the winter months, in areas that have snow, people enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing and skating.
Vegetation Region
Cordilleran:
The Cordilleran Vegetation makes up most of B.C.’s vegetative regions.
The grasses and cactus tend to grow in the dry and hot valleys.
The steep slopes allow nothing to grow on them.
Forests in this region tend to be coniferous.
- Forests are located on the bottom of the mountains whereas when it gets higher it gets above the tree line and start to see tundra-like vegetation.
West Coast Forest:
West Coast Forest is located along the west coast of British Columbia and is the second largest vegetation region of the three regions within B.C.
Has many regions classified as rain forest and the rest are very close to it. The trees are lush and thick, they include Douglas fir, Sitka, Spruce, Red Cedar, and Western Hemlock.
Heavy rainfall within this region.
Boreal and Taiga Forest:
Boreal and Taiga Forest make up the largest vegetative region within Canada, but it is the smallest one within B.C.
The Region is located in a small space in the northeast part of B.C.
Only coniferous trees found here and this includes trees such as white and black spruce, balsam fir and pine.
This region receives a fair amount of precipitation to survive off of .
This region also has a very short growing season due to little precipitation and a cold climate.
Soil Region
4 Main Soil Types:
Brunisol Soil:
- An immature soil that is found in well forested areas.
- Brownish in colour.
- Not very good for growing vegetation, and agriculture because this soil is found under most pine tree, which means it is acidic.
- Found mainly in Boreal and Tiaga forests.
Luvisol Soil:
- Found under forested areas.
- Has a high level of calcium, which results in a strong clay found in the
- Has more nutrients are you did deeper into the soil.
- Found mainly in West Coast Forest.
Organic Soil:
- Contains a lot of humus, which makes it good for agriculture and vegetation.
- A lot of decaying and decayed organic material is found in it, therefore, the nutrients left behind are fantastic for growing plants and trees.
- Mostly found deep in the rainforests of British Columbia, or somewhere near bogs.
Tourism
Top 10 Places to visit in British Columbia:
Haida Gwaii
Mystical islands with a rich cultural history
Vancouver
Urban playground in the heart of nature
Canadian Rockies
Awe inspiring peaks, impossibly blue lakes
Great Bear Rainforest
Home of the elusive Spirit Bear
Whistler
Arguably the planet's top all-season resort
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Pristine wilderness and endless beaches
Alaska Highway
Remote wilderness, home to some serious wildlife
Victoria
Old world charm with an ocean view
Okanagan Valley
Award-winning wineries set against a dramatic backdrop
Kootenay Ski Towns
Unsurpassed powder and a funky, small town vibe
Other Fun Facts on British Columbia:
- BC occupies about 10 per cent of Canada’s land surface.
- The provincial flower of BC is the Dogwood.
- BC is one of the world’s top three producing regions for cranberries and blueberries.
- In 2009, people born in British Columbia had the highest life expectancy in Canada, at 81.7 years.
- Queen Victoria bestowed British Columbia its name.
- Only 30 countries are larger than BC.