The Land

British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province and one of North America's most mountainous regions. BC is bordered by the province of Alberta, the Yukon Territory and several U.S. states, including Alaska.

Given its location, British Columbia is a gateway to the Pacific and Asia. Sometimes simply categorized as part of Canada's "West," the province is actually a distinct region, both geographically and culturally.

The variety of its landscape is the main reason for British Columbia's distinctiveness: its 947 800 km2 offer remarkable topographical contrasts. Where the Pacific Ocean reaches the continent, it meets a chain of islands, large and small, running from north to

south. Some of these islands are nestled in fiords carved in the majestic Coastal Mountains, which rise more than 2 000 metres above sea level.

To the east of the Coastal Mountains lies a rolling upland of forests, natural grasslands and lakes. Farther east, the Rocky Mountains (with peaks more than 4 000 metres high) separate British Columbia from neighbouring Alberta. In the north, a small corner of the province is occupied by the Great Plains.

The province's climate equals its topography for variety. For example, the mild coastal region receives abundant precipitation - from 130 to 380 centimetres of rain per year - while the interior has a continental climate. Other parts of the province are almost desert-like, with very hot summers followed by very cold winters.