Cariboo facts for kids
The Cariboo is a special area in British Columbia, Canada. It's a high, flat land (called a plateau) located between mountains. It stretches from the Fraser Canyon to the Cariboo Mountains. The name 'Cariboo' comes from the caribou, which are a type of deer. Many caribou used to live here.
The Cariboo was the first part of inland British Columbia, north of the lower Fraser River, to be settled by people who were not Indigenous. It played a big part in the early history of the colony and province. The original Cariboo area was mainly focused on rich gold-mining creeks near the Willow River. The most famous creek, Williams Creek, is where Barkerville is located. Barkerville was the main town during the Cariboo Gold Rush and a center for government for many years. Today, it's a museum town.
Today, not many people live in the old Cariboo goldfields. But long ago, this area was very busy and important for British Columbia. Over time, people started settling further south along the Cariboo Road. This made the 'Cariboo' area grow bigger, including the Cariboo Plateau and lands near the Fraser and Thompson rivers.
The grassy areas of the Cariboo are home to the American badger (Taxidea taxus jeffersonii). This type of badger is endangered in the region.
Contents
Why is it called the Cariboo?
The name "Cariboo" was used quite early on. In 1861, Governor Douglas used this name to describe the area in his messages to Britain.
Important Towns in the Cariboo
The Cariboo region is often divided into three parts: North, Central, and South Cariboo. Each part has its own important towns.
North Cariboo Towns
- Quesnel
- Wells
- Likely
- Barkerville
- McLeese Lake
Central Cariboo Towns
- Williams Lake
- Horsefly
- 150 Mile House
- Lac La Hache
South Cariboo Towns
- 100 Mile House
- Forest Grove
- Interlakes
- Lone Butte
- 70 Mile House
- Clinton
Images for kids
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Location of "the Cariboo" as a cultural/historical region, including the Chilcotin and Lillooet-Thompson areas
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Location of the Cariboo Plateau proper
