Share on Facebook
Share on X
Share by Email
Share on Google Classroom
The Columbia Mountains are a block of mountains 608 km long and 256 km wide that dominate the landscape of southeastern British Columbia. The Monashee, Selkirk and Purcell mountains form parallel lines extending North-South from the United States to the Rocky Mountain Trench.
Mining
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, BC. (See also Mineral Resources in Canada.)
Recreation
Alpine areas such as the Bugaboos are increasingly popular for skiing and hiking. To the North-West, between the Quesnel-Shuswap Highlands and the trench, are the Cariboo Mountains. They include Bowron Lake Provincial Park and most of Wells Gray Provincial Park, both noted for outstanding scenery and recreation.
