Geography of B.C.

Source: Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
Copyright 1993 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

In terms of land area, British Columbia is the third largest province in Canada, and is larger than every state in the United States except for Alaska. Statistics Canada estimates the population of British Columbia as of 1 July 1995 to be 3 764 200. This is 15% higher than the 3 282 061 people reported by the 1991 census; B.C. is growing quite rapidly.

B.C. borders on Alberta to the east, the American states of Montana, Idaho and Washington to the south, the Pacific Ocean and Alaska to the west, and Yukon and Northwest Territories to the north.

Size in perspective

Sources: Statistics Canada (2006 Census), Natural Resources Canada, Wikipedia (2007)

More interesting geographical statistics are available from Statistics Canada's web site.

Photo: Heidi Strickland

Aside from the prairie-like north-eastern corner of the province, BC consists of mountain ranges running parallel to the Pacific coast all the way inland to Alberta. This accounts for the low population density of the province and the concentration of population in a small number of large urban areas.

Population of urban areas of British Columbia

Source: Statistics Canada (1991 Census)

Climate

The majority of British Columbians live in the Vancouver or Victoria area and enjoy a climate unique in Canada. Temperatures are moderate and winters are rainy rather than snowy.

The interior is, generally speaking, colder in winter and hotter in summer. Roads through mountain passes are occasionally closed due to heavy snowfall or avalanches.

The following tables show the monthly average temperatures (in degrees Celsius), rain (in mm), snow (in cm), number of days of measurable precipitation, and number of hours of sunshine. Information is from Statistics Canada.

Vancouver International Airport ---------------------------------------------
Max    5.7   8.0   9.9 12.7 16.3 19.3 21.7 21.7 18.4  13.5   9.0   6.1   13.5
Min    0.1   1.4   2.6  4.9  7.9 11.0 12.7 12.9 10.1   6.4   3.0   0.8    6.1
Mean   3.0   4.7   6.3  8.8 12.1 15.2 17.2 17.4 14.3  10.0   6.0   3.5    9.9
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Rain 131.6 115.6 105.4 74.9 61.7 45.7 36.1 38.1 64.4 115.3 167.2 161.2 1117.2
Snow  20.6   8.6   4.1  0.5  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0   0.0   2.6  18.6   54.9
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Prcp    19    16    16   13   12   10    7    7    9    15    19    21    164
Sun     55    87   132  172  237  252  296  265  189   124    67    54   1919

Victoria International Airport ----------------------------------------------
Max    6.5   8.4  10.2 12.9 16.3 19.3 21.8 21.8 19.1  14.1   9.4   6.8   13.9
Min    0.3   1.2   1.9  3.8  6.5  9.3 10.7 10.6  8.4   5.3   2.5   0.8    5.1
Mean   3.4   4.8   6.1  8.4 11.4 14.3 16.2 16.2 13.8   9.7   6.0   3.8    9.5
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Rain 124.1  91.2  68.2 41.8 33.4 27.3 17.6 23.7 36.6  74.4 136.4 138.0  812.8
Snow  17.2   8.1   3.7  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0   0.0   3.4  14.5   46.9
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Prcp    18    16    16   13   11    9    5    6    8    14    18    19    153
Sun     64    89   143  187  250  257  324  289  207   139    76    57   2082

Kelowna (in interior)--------------------------------------------------------
Max   -0.7   2.8   9.4 15.2 20.0 24.3 27.6 27.2 20.9  13.5   5.4   0.2   13.8
Min   -8.4  -6.3  -2.7  0.5  4.7  8.4 10.0  9.7  5.3   0.5  -2.9  -6.9    1.0
Mean  -4.5  -1.7   3.4  7.9 12.4 16.4 18.8 18.5 13.1   7.0   1.3  -3.3    7.4
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Rain   5.9   8.0  16.9 24.4 37.5 36.9 33.7 33.9 35.8  21.3  17.5   8.8  280.7
Snow  31.9  18.2   5.4  0.7  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0   0.7  12.2  36.5  105.5
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Prcp    14    11    10    9   11   10    8    9    9     9    13    14    129
Sun    no measurements available

Tofino (on West Coast of Vancouver Island - VERY WET!)-----------------------
Max    7.2   8.5   9.5 11.2 13.9 16.3 18.3 18.6 17.4  13.5   9.7   7.6   12.7
Min    1.2   1.9   2.1  3.5  6.0  8.5 10.1 10.6  8.9   6.0   3.2   1.6    5.3
Mean   4.2   5.3   5.8  7.3 10.0 12.4 14.2 14.6 13.2   9.8   6.5   4.6    9.0
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Rain 405.6 363.3 353.7  241  155  122 82.6 92.7  150 387.9 455.1 428.3 3235.8
Snow  18.8   8.8   6.9  1.8  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0   0.0   2.9  13.3   52.6
       Jan   Feb   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Year
Prcp    22    19    20   18   14   12   10   11   13    19    23    23    202
Sun    no measurements available