British Columbia: Coastlines, Mountains, and More

Nestled between mountain ranges, the plains, mountains, and ocean make this province a destination of its own. The beauty of the variations in land and view make every part of British Columbia a little different.

History

Being one of the last areas of North America to be explored, this wonderland of beauty is booming with resources, such as forestry and mining, and has become the third most populous province.

As with most of Canada, British Columbia’s history begins with the First Nations people. The link is found in everything from city names to fjords. Even their customs and festivals are interwoven into the British Columbian lifestyle.

Explorers from Britain, Spain, Russia, and America began their exploration of the area in the 1750s. It wasn’t until 1849 that Vancouver Island was colonized, and the Gold Rush brought many people to the interior of British Columbia not long after.

In 1871, British Columbia joined Canada as a province, and in 1885 the Canadian Pacific Railway made travel from eastern to western Canada possible. With the completion of the railway, trade, resources, and movement of people became possible throughout Canada.

Famous Foods in the Far West

Nanaimo Bars - Creamy and delicious, these layered cookies with graham cracker, coconut and nuts have a vanilla-butter middle and are finished with semi-sweet chocolate.

Salmon – This fish comes served in many different ways in British Columbia: hot smoked salmon, candy salmon (smoked salmon with maple syrup glaze), salmon jerky, salmon pate or simply grilled salmon.

Spot Prawns – These wild, sustainable, sweet prawns are the largest shrimp in the Pacific Northwest. In Vancouver, there is even a festival, the Spot Prawn Festival.

BC Roll - Sushi at its finest! The BC Roll takes sushi rice, barbecued salmon and cucumbers and makes a delicacy that was invented in Vancouver as a substitution for eel.

BC Sights to See

Whistler – Home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler is nestled at the foot of the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Ski, snowboard, hike, mountain bike, golf, and just explore. Whistler offers natural beauty for any outdoor lover.

Yoho National Park – Another beautiful outdoor option, Yoho National Park offers visitors beauty with waterfalls, mountains, lakes, and snow-capped peaks.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve – If you prefer the beach to the mountains, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve offers long stretches of beach with great conditions for surfing and walking.

Glacier National Park – Climbers and hikers love the beauty found in Glacier National Park. With 400 glaciers, dense forests, and abundant wildlife, there is something for everyone. Drive through or get out and explore.

Good-to-Know Random Facts

British Columbia is four times the size of Great Britain, and only 30 countries are larger than British Columbia.
Two thirds of British Columbia is forest land.
Duncan, British Columbia boasts the world’s largest hockey stick (62.48 metres long and 28.12 tonnes).
British Columbia’s provincial mammal is the Spirit Bear, a black bear with white fur.
British Columbia is one of the world’s top three producing regions for cranberries and blueberries.

With abundant natural beauty, British Columbia is a nature lover's paradise. With lots of land along the coastline, this province is a sight to be seen.

More learning resources on British Columbia:

Lots of facts about BC on Kiddle

Fun Video for kids on the regional districts of BC

British Columbia Facts & Worksheets from Kidskonnect

This article has been written by homeschooling staff writers of The Canadian Schoolhouse (TCS). Enjoy more of our content from TCS contributors and staff writers by visiting our Front Door page that has content on our monthly theme and links to all our content sections.