Pacific Maritimes
The Pacific Maritimes lies along British Columbia’s coast and its border with Alaska. The Coast Mountains as seen above, rise steeply from the coast, and glaciers are found at higher elevations. Mountains that lie on Queen Charlotte Islands and Vancouver Island are taller, older, and extremely rugged than the mountains along the coast. The Coast Mountains dominate most of the
ecozone and glaciers and snowfields cap the tallest ranges. Pacific Maritimes has an area of 196 200km!
Mount Waddington, at 4,000 meters is B.C.‘s highest mountain.
The Estevan Coastal Plain is a long narrow strip of rocky coastline on the west of Vancouver Island dotted by the occasional beach. This unique landscape is constantly changing as it bears the full brunt of the Pacific's ceaseless waves and scouring winds.
Multiple mazes of fiords and channels dissect the coastline from Vancouver to Alaska. These are fjords that are some of the world's longest and deepest.
The Pacific Maritimes has one of the wettest weather. Since it is so close to the Pacific ocean, the climate changes frequently. Summers are cooler and winters are mild. Summer temperatures average 13 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures average -1.5 degrees Celsius. The difference in temperature from summer and winter is the least than anywhere else in Canada. Precipitation can exceed 4000 mm a year in the north because the mountains block most of the rain that clouds would usually bring. The Gulf Islands in the south receive only 600 mm a year.
The south has a great population growth, urban development, and multiple industries such as forestry, pulp, and paper. 3 million Residents are concentrated in the Georgia Basin, the lower Mainland and Victoria where it is quite urbanized. The population has been growing rapidly due to immigration.
Forest related industries have been the economic backbone of this ecozone. 2 millions hectares of temperate coastal rainforest had been clear-cut in the past 120 years. The logging tripled in the Pacific Maritime while the rest of Canada only doubled.
Commercial fishing industry is another major economic benefit and the west coast is now an important marine transportation route.
The third industry of the Pacific Maritime ecozone is farming and agriculture. This ecozone has rich soil that is great for crops. Farming is mainly important in the south where they grow various types of fruit trees.
Tourism is a major human activity. The Pacific Maritime Ecozone has a rare majestic beauty and people from all over the world are drawn to it. There are nature activities such as whale watching, wilderness tours, and trips to the hot springs.
A popular tourist attraction is the Inner Harbor in Victoria overlooking James Bay. This area of waterfront is the location of Victoria's many tourist attractions, recreational activities, restaurants, shopping, kayaking, and city walk sightseeing. For a special treat, board a ferry for a harbor tour!
There is also more developed tourism areas such as the several resorts on beaches or on ski hills, there are even helicopter rides available to see the amazing landscapes of the Pacific Maritimes.
HOPE YOU VISIT SOMETIME!