The province of British Columbia is located in southwestern Canada on the Pacific coast. There are sandy beaches, islands, mountains with glaciers and dense forests, as well as entire lake districts. British Columbia more suitable for nature lovers.
According to Insidewatch.net, the capital of the province of British Columbia is the city of Victoria. It is located on the southeast coast of Vancouver Island. You can get here by plane or by ferry from the city of Vancouver. Victoria is the “Island of England” in Canada, everything from its name to architecture is reminiscent of England. Victoria is also called the garden city. And in fact, in the city and its environs there are 48 parks with a total area of 7600 hectares. One of the main attractions of Victoria is the world-famous Butchart Gardens.. The park receives about half a million visitors annually. A favorite vacation spot for residents of the city and its guests is also Bacon Hill Park, where there are lakes, rivers, bridges and areas of wild vegetation that is found in different parts of the world. Here, in the middle of the 20th century, the tallest totem pole in the world, 38.8 m high, was installed. Totem poles are an integral part of the culture of the indigenous inhabitants of the Pacific coast of Canada. The poles are made of wood, the faces of deities and all kinds of ornaments are carved on them, and they are also painted with multi-colored paints. The busiest part of the city, where numerous shops, restaurants and bars are located, is the city harbor. The building of the Parliament stands out in its architecture., which is very beautiful in the evening when the backlight turns on, and the Empress Hotel building of 1905. The hotel is known for the fact that traditional English tea parties are held here every day at five o’clock in the evening. Victoria’s central street is Wharf Street. It has many old buildings. The world-famous Museum of British Columbia is also located here.
From Victoria you can get to Pacific Rim National Park, which is located 337 km from Victoria. The park stretches in a narrow strip 125 km long along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. and covers an area of 510 sq. km. From the west, Pacific Rim is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, and from the east it is bounded by the mountain systems of Vancouver. In addition, Strascona Provincial Park is of interest on Vancouver Island. Here is the highest point of the island – Mount Golden Hind (2198 m), and one of the most beautiful cascading waterfalls in the country – Della 440 m high. Mount Washington ski resort is located in the center of Vancouver Island. On the southwestern tip of Canada on the Pacific coast, in an area with a fertile climate where grapes, apricots and peaches grow, the largest city of British Columbia is located.
Vancouver is also one of the major ports in North America and the largest port on the west coast of Canada. Vancouver stretches along the banks of the English Bay, where the Fraser River flows into. From the east it is surrounded by spurs of the Coast Range. Vancouver ‘s Central Business District is separated from its other districts by numerous branches of the Fraser River, through which bridges are laid. Vancouver Bridges are one of the city’s top attractions. Downtown Vancouver is located on a peninsula. Northwest of Downtown is Stanley Park.with cedar forests. The main pedestrian area of Stanley Park is the seaside promenade. This is a favorite place for walks of residents and visitors of the city. In addition to forests and beaches with ocean views, the park features totem poles (iconic wooden sculptures of the first inhabitants of Canada’s Pacific coast), as well as an Aquarium and a Zoo. South of Downtown Vancouver is Granville Island. There are restaurants, numerous souvenir shops, shops and art galleries. On weekends, the island is the venue for a variety of concerts and festivals. Also interesting in Vancouver is the oldest quarter of the city – Gestown, which dates back to 1867. Vancouver – a city of immigrants, so here is Canada ‘s largest Chinatown with numerous markets. Vancouver is surrounded by 18 km of sandy beaches that start from Stanley Park Park and end on the other side of English Bay. In the vicinity of Vancouver, it is worth visiting Capilano Park. Interesting here are ancient forests with many trails, Capilano Canyon, through which a long suspension bridge is laid over 100 years old, and waterfalls on the Capilano River. Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Whistler ski resort was chosen as the main venue for the Olympic Games., which is one of the most popular skiing destinations in North America. Kelowna is located 400 km east of Vancouver in the center of the fertile Okanogan Valley on the eastern shore of Lake Okanagan. The local climate is similar to subtropical and is distinguished by a large number of sunny days a year. This allows you to grow a variety of fruits here. The city is surrounded by orchards, vineyards and even lavender farms. The area around Kelowna and the Okanogan Lake Valley is a popular destination for wine tourism. Big White and Red Mountain ski resorts are located 55 km from Kelowna. Near the eastern border of British Columbia, where the Rocky Mountains stretch, there are several national parks – Kutney, Yoho and Glacier. Traveling on them starts from the city of Golden . Slightly to the west in the Columbian Mountains is Mount Revelstoke National Park. It is known for its giant pines and cedars, among which passes one of the most spectacular hiking trails, the ancient Western Red Cedars trail. The park also became known as one of the first places in the world where ski jumping competitions were held. At the northern end of British Columbia’s Pacific coast lies the town of Prince Rupert. This is the starting point for the journey for the Queen Charlotte Islands. Part of the Queen Charlotte Islands is occupied by the Gwai Haanas National Park with an area of 1470 square meters. km. The park was opened to protect the coastal ecosystems and habitats of the ancient Haida Indian tribes. The Queen Charlotte Islands are often referred to as the “Canadian Galapagos Islands” because of the many endemic animal species found here. This is the only place in Canada, where the Pacific puffin nests, is home to the country’s largest coastal eagle populations, as well as the largest populations of peregrine falcons in the world. In spring and summer, gray whales swim through the islands, in addition, sea lions and other pinnipeds can be seen in coastal waters. The village of Ninsteens on Anthony Island is home to Haida totem poles, and the surrounding area is home to Indian villages where you can experience their way of life. In general, the Queen Charlotte Islands are a great place for boat trips, bird watching and large marine animals.
