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Words are inadequate to describe the spectacular scenery of Northern British Columbia. It is here that jagged ranges of snow clad peaks, timbered foothills, fertile valleys, great lakes and rivers combine to form a photographer’s paradise. It is an endless panorama of thick lodgepole pine forests, cattle country, northern wilderness, the magnificent coast and finally the Queen Charlotte Islands. The region's size itself is impressive. It encompasses an area of roughly 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles), making it considerably larger than the state of California.

BC South

Well known for its spectacular mountain ranges, British Columbia is separated from the rest of Canada by the rugged Rocky Mountains. These towering giants stand like sentinels above the flat sweeping prairies to give B.C. an incomparable character. This vast range was cursed by early explorers as they labored to build roads through the rocky terrain. Their arduous efforts proved successful and the country was opened up to settlement.

Today, these mountains provide some of the most beautiful scenery in the country and the setting for several of the province’s most spectacular mountain parks. Yoho National Park features magnificently sculptured hoodoos, intriguing spiral tunnels of the first Canadian railway through the Rockies, spectacular ice fields and glaciers, craggy mountains and cascading Takakkaw Falls. Borrowed from the Cree language, Yoho appropriately means “how wonderful.”

The forces that created these magnificent mountains also created the holes and faults in the interior rocks that filled with hot mineral waters, claimed by many to have medicinal benefits. Fairmont and Radium are two popular resorts that have been built around these hot springs and every year thousands of visitors plan their sightseeing adventures to include a relaxing rest in the hot pools.

Recreation is unlimited in the British Columbia Rocky Mountains. Hiking trails are everywhere, suitable for everyone from beginners to experts. Big fish are biting in countless mountain lakes and rivers. Windsurfing and water-skiing are enjoyed on the warm waters of Lake Windermere, while hang gliding adventures commence from the high points near Golden and Elkford.

History is relived in the recreated Fort Steele village, complete with locomotive train rides and a bevy of pioneer crafts and stores. In winter Kimberley’s ski resort provides some of the finest skiing available, while summertime offers thrilling alpine slide rides.