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The west coast of British Columbia is made up of majestic mountains plunging into deep blue waters. Add in tall forests, great rivers, rare birds, whales, salmon, bears, boats and small villages, and you've got a place of truly breathtaking beauty.

With these attractions—as well as the inland mountains, forests, lakes and orchards—British Columbia will prove most irresistible to those travelers who love the outdoors. But you don't have to be a wilderness aficionado to appreciate the wonders: The province has lots of boat trips, guided tours and well-maintained roads that allow you to see the sights in a good deal of comfort.

Visitors who have no desire to look at even a single eagle, barking sea lion or glacier will find the cities of Victoria and, especially, Vancouver to be urban jewels almost as outstanding as the province's natural resources. These cities are still within gazing distance of the mountains and the sea, however. Escaping the scenery in British Columbia is no easy task.

Geography

History

It's almost impossible to experience the province's natural beauty without being affected by its indigenous cultures. The early groups who lived on Vancouver Island and in western British Columbia (Kwakiutle, Haida, Nootka, Salish, Bella Coola) had unquestionably the most elaborate nonagricultural society in North America. Above all else, they were masters at woodworking and the decorative arts: Longhouses, totem poles, finely carved wooden utensils and oceangoing canoes were among the many items they built from local timber. Some remarkable examples of their art remain in museums and parks throughout the province. The Sanpoil-Nespelem of southeastern British Columbia were primarily hunter-gatherers who settled in small villages along the Columbia River to take advantage of seasonal salmon runs. Similarly, smaller groups began to settle along the verdant shores of the Fraser River.

The first Europeans to see what is today British Columbia weren't looking for B.C. itself—they sought the elusive Northwest Passage. Early explorers included Capt. George Vancouver and Capt. James Cook. While they were planting the British flag on Vancouver Island, Spain was claiming Nootka Sound. The area eventually came under British dominion, as did the rest of Canada. The Oregon Treaty, signed in 1846, established the southern border with the U.S. at the 49th parallel.

British Columbia became a province of Canada in 1871. By the time the final spikes in the transcontinental railroad were hammered in 1885 (at Craigellachie, south of Revelstoke), the province's abundant natural wealth (gold, fish and forests) had made it an increasingly important player in Canada's national economy.

Today, British Columbia has a rich blend of cultures, a result of the province's location on the Pacific Rim: Large communities of Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Malaysians, South Pacific islanders, East Indians, Pakistanis, Vietnamese and Thais live among the descendants of English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh pioneers. It's an ethnic diversity that's evident in fabulous restaurants, varied shopping, interesting neighborhoods and an overall cosmopolitan ambience.

Snapshot

The province's main draws include scenic beauty (mountain and coastal), the cities of Vancouver and Victoria, fishing, totem poles, whale-watching, gold-rush historic sites, canoeing, river rafting, kayaking, surfing, beaches, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, vineyards, organic farms, dude ranches, health spas, train rides and boat trips through the Inside Passage.

Consider British Columbia if you love the outdoors—nature lovers, anglers and photographers could spend a lifetime in B.C. and never be bored. Just about everyone will enjoy Vancouver, one of the most progressive and picturesque cities on the continent, as well as Victoria, a city that's often described as "more English than England." Those who despise wet weather may be unhappy along the coast, which sees a lot of rain except during the hot, dry peak of summer. Interior areas of the province are much drier, and some areas even give way to desertlike surroundings—complete with horned lizards, cacti and scorpions.

Potpourri

The maritime tribes of British Columbia were known for their elaborate wealth-redistribution system, called potlatching, whereby stored food and property were proportioned out according to strict social and ritualistic codes. Potlatch ceremonies are staged throughout the province for visitors to observe.

In addition to having had its share of gold-rush boomtowns, British Columbia has a few silver-rush towns that today are intriguing shadows of their former glory. Most are in the East Kootenays, along Highway 31A (among them Retallack, Zincton, Sandon, New Denver, Nakusp and Silverton).

The abandoned Haida village of Ninstints on Anthony Island off the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.

An estimated 22,000 Pacific gray whales pass through British Columbia's coastal waters during their biannual migrations between Alaska and Mexico.

A rare, cream-colored bear, the Kermode or "Spirit Bear," is unique to British Columbia's northern coastal rain forest. It is believed to be a genetic variation of a common black bear. Scientists estimate that there are about 1,200 Kermode—which has been named the province's official mammal—in the coastal area that stretches from Vancouver Island to the Alaska Panhandle.

The average life expectancy in Victoria is 80 years. It is considered Canada's retirement capital because of its mild weather and easy breezy lifestyle.

The province motto is "Splendor without diminishment."