Columbia Mountains | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Columbia Mountains

Columbia Mountains are a block of mountains 608 km long and 256 km wide that dominate the landscape of southeastern BC.
Bugaboo Spires
The Bugaboos required expert mountaineering skills for mastery in the time of Conrad Kain (Corel Professional Photos).

Columbia Mountains are a block of mountains 608 km long and 256 km wide that dominate the landscape of southeastern BC. The Monashee, Selkirk and Purcell mountains form parallel lines extending north-south from the US to the Rocky Mountain Trench. Minerals in the Purcells, between the valley of Kootenay Lake and the trench, have been exploited since the 1890s, notably silver-bearing lead-zinc ore from Cominco Ltd's huge Sullivan Mine in Kimberley. Alpine areas such as the Bugaboos are increasingly popular for skiing and hiking. To the NW, between the Quesnel-Shuswap Highlands and the trench, are the Cariboo Mountains. They include Bowron Lk Prov Pk and most of Wells Gray Prov Pk, both noted for outstanding scenery and recreation.

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