List of physiogeographic regions of British Columbia facts for kids
British Columbia is a huge province in Canada, and it's made up of many different natural areas. Imagine it like a giant puzzle, where each piece has its own special features, like tall mountains, flat plains, or rolling hills. These natural areas are called physiogeographic regions. They help us understand how the land was formed and what makes each part of BC unique. A scientist named S.S. Holland helped define these regions in a book called Landforms of British Columbia. Let's explore some of these amazing places!
Western Cordillera (Canadian Cordillera)
The Western Cordillera is a massive system of mountain ranges that stretches along the western side of North America. In British Columbia, it's like the backbone of the province, with many different mountain chains and valleys.
Western System
This part of the Cordillera is closest to the Pacific Ocean. It includes the mountains right on the coast and the lowlands next to them.
Outer Mountain Area
These are the mountains that face the ocean directly.
- Saint Elias Mountains: These are very tall and icy mountains found in the far northwest part of BC, near the border with Alaska. They include:
- Fairweather Range
- Duke Depression
- Alsek Ranges
- Icefield Ranges
- Insular Mountains: These mountains are found on the islands off the coast of BC, like Vancouver Island and the Haida Gwaii islands.
- Queen Charlotte Mountains (on Haida Gwaii)
- Skidegate Plateau
- Queen Charlotte Ranges
- Vancouver Island Mountains (on Vancouver Island)
- Vancouver Island Ranges
- Alberni Basin
- Estevan Lowland (also known as Estevan Strandflat)
- Queen Charlotte Mountains (on Haida Gwaii)
Coastal Trough
This area is like a long, lower valley or lowland that sits between the outer mountains and the main Coast Mountains.
- Hecate Depression: This is a lowland area found between the Haida Gwaii islands and the mainland.
- Queen Charlotte Lowland
- Argonaut Plain
- Nahwitti Lowland
- Suquash Basin
- Hecate Lowland
- Milbanke Strandflat
- Queen Charlotte Lowland
- Georgia Depression: This is a large lowland area in southwestern BC, where many people live, including the city of Vancouver.
- Georgia Lowland
- Fraser Lowland
- Nanaimo Lowland
- Georgia Lowland
Coast Mountain Area
These are the main mountain ranges that run along the coast of British Columbia. They are known for their rugged peaks and deep fjords (long, narrow inlets of the sea).
- Coast Mountains: A huge mountain range that forms a natural barrier along the coast.
- Boundary Ranges: Found near the border with Alaska.
- Kitimat Ranges: Located in the central part of the Coast Mountains.
- Fiord Ranges: This term is sometimes used for parts of the Kitimat and Pacific Ranges that are very close to the coast and have many fjords.
- Pacific Ranges: The southernmost and highest part of the Coast Mountains.
- Cascade Mountains: These mountains are in the very south of BC, extending down into the United States.
- Coquihalla Range
- Skagit Range
- Hozameen Range
- Okanagan Range
Interior System
This system includes the plateaus and mountains found in the middle of British Columbia, away from the coast.
Northern Plateau and Mountain Area
This region is in the northern part of BC's interior.
- Yukon Plateau: A high, flat area that extends from the Yukon Territory into northern BC.
- Liard Plain: A flatter area in the far northeast of BC.
Central Plateau and Mountain Area (Interior Mountains)
This area has a mix of high, flat plateaus and mountain ranges.
- Stikine Plateau: A large plateau in northwestern BC.
- Tahltan Highland
- Taku Plateau
- Kawdy Plateau
- Atsutla Range
- Nahlin Plateau
- Tanzilla Plateau
- Klastline Plateau
- Spatsizi Plateau
- Skeena Mountains: A mountain range in west-central BC.
- Kippan Range
- Tatlatui Range
- Eaglenest Range
- Sicintine Range
- Slamgeesh Range
- Nass Basin (Nass Depression): A lower area near the Nass River.
- Hazelton Mountains: Another mountain range in west-central BC.
- Nass Ranges
- Kispiox Range
- Bulkley Ranges
- Tahtsa Ranges
- Cassiar Mountains: A long mountain range in northern BC.
- Dease Plateau
- Horseranch Range
- Stikine Ranges
- Kechika Ranges
- Sifton Ranges
- Dease Plateau
- Omineca Mountains: Mountains in the central interior of BC.
- Swannell Ranges
- Finlay Ranges
- Hogem Ranges
Southern Plateau and Mountain Area
This region covers the southern interior of BC, known for its plateaus and the Columbia Mountains.
- Interior Plateau: A large, high plateau that covers much of the southern interior.
- Fraser Basin
- Nechako Plain
- Nechako Plateau
- Fraser Plateau
- Thompson Plateau
- Quesnel Highland
- Shuswap Highland
- Okanagan Highland
- Fraser Basin
- Columbia Mountains: A group of mountain ranges in southeastern BC, famous for their beauty and outdoor activities.
- Cariboo Mountains
- Monashee Mountains
- Selkirk Mountains
- Purcell Mountains
Eastern System
This system includes the mountains and plateaus on the eastern side of British Columbia.
Mackenzie Mountain Area
- Liard Plateau: A plateau area in the far northeast of BC, extending towards the Mackenzie Mountains.
Rocky Mountain Area
This is where the famous Rocky Mountains are found, forming the eastern border of British Columbia.
- Rocky Mountains: A major mountain range known for its dramatic peaks and national parks.
- Border Ranges: Mountains right along the BC-Alberta border.
- Galton Range
- MacDonald Range
- Clarke Range
- Continental Ranges: The main part of the Rockies, where the continental divide (the line that separates rivers flowing to the Pacific from those flowing to the Arctic or Atlantic) is located.
- Hart Ranges: A northern part of the Rockies in BC.
- Muskwa Ranges: The northernmost part of the Rockies in BC.
- Rabbit Platuea
- Border Ranges: Mountains right along the BC-Alberta border.
- Rocky Mountain Foothills: The rolling hills and lower mountains found just west of the main Rocky Mountains.
Interior Plains
While most of British Columbia is mountainous, a small part in the very northeast extends into the flatter Interior Plains, which cover much of central Canada.
Alberta Plateau
This is a high, flat area that extends from Alberta into northeastern BC.
Fort Nelson Lowland
This is a lower, flatter area within the Alberta Plateau, near the town of Fort Nelson.
