BC Facts and Myths
British Columbia, Canada EH!

British Columbia Facts and Myth

• Over 4% of the British Columbia is covered in fresh water lakes and rivers.
• More then half of B.C. is above sea level and three quarters consists of looming mountain ranges like the Rockies, Coastal, Columbia, Selkirk, Monashee, Cassiar, Skeena, Omineca, Cariboo and Purcell Mountains.
• British Columbia is home to Canada's only desert. It is in the Okanagan Valley.
• Off the west coast of BC are over 6000 islands including Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands).
• 75% of British Columbia is mountains.
• British Columbia's coastline measures 27,000 kilometres.
• Oldest tree in British Columbia is a sitka spruce tree called "The Heaven Tree" estimated to be over 800-years-old located in the Carmanah Walbran Park.
• BC enjoys some of the largest populations in the world of Black Bear, Caribou, Grizzly Bear, Cougar and Moose.
• Skookumchuk Narrows in the Sunshine Coast region of B.C. is the fastest moving tidal currents in the world measuring 16 knots.
• Over 60 % of British Columbia, Canada is covered with forests (this is dropping unfortunately).
• Della Falls near the community of Port Alberni is the highest waterfall in Canada measuring over 440 metres.
• The Kemode Bear (Spirit Bear) is British Columbia's provincial mammal. A Kemode Bear is a Black Bear with white fur.
• The Pacific Dogwood is British Columbia's provincial flower.
• The Stellar's Jay is British Columbia's provincial bird.
• The giant Western Red Cedar is British Columbia's provincial tree.
• British Columbia became part of the Canadian Confederation in 1871.
• Victoria, BC is the capital city of British Columbia.
• There are 197 First Nation bands in British Columbia.
• There are over 1000 National, Provincial and protected areas in British Columbia.
• 14 % of British Columbia landmass is considered a protected area.
• World's largest octopus and sea star are located in the Pacific Ocean waters located off the British Columbia coastline.
• Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia.
• British Columbia top industries are forestry, mining, fishing, and tourism.
• Khutzeymateen Provincial Park is the only grizzly bear wildlife sanctuary of its kind in Canada specificly for grizzlies.
• Liard River Hot Springs is a top natural, outdoor hot spring in North America.
• British Columbia's largest provincial park is the Tweedsmuir Provincial Park at 989,616 hectares.
• British Columbia's first provincial park was Strathcona Park in 1911.
• British Columbia uses the metric system (kilometres instead of miles)
• Mount Waddington is the highest peak in British Columbia measuring 4016 mretres.
• For emergencies in B.C. dial 911 (not available in all remote areas).
• The community of Houston is home to the World's largest fishing rod.
• Williston Lake located on the Peace River is the largest lake in B.C. measured at 1773 square kilometres.