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The Kootenays are a region of dramatic glacier-carved valleys overseen
by the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. This region is studded by numerous lakes, including the
largest inland lake in
the province, 156 km (97 mi) long
Kootenay Lake. The eastern perimeter of the Kootenay Region is delineated by
the rugged, ragged mountains  of
the Rockies, similar to those seen in Banff National Park. To the
west of the Rockies are the much rounder and older Purcell Mountains.
The Purcells differentiate the eastern
portion of the Kootenays from the western Kootenay Lake country. The
West Kootenay feature the southern extension of the interior rain
forest, whereas the East Kootenay experiences the rainshadow effect
created by the Purcell Mountains, which makes for a dry grassland country.
The Kootenay Region is a recreationalist's dream. Backcountry
trekkers are drawn to the Kootenays for its high mountains,
alpine lakes, grasslands,
and high country meadows full of wildflowers.
Other visitors come for the fishing, horseback riding, downhill
or crosscountry skiing, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Mountain
climbers come to tackle such peaks as Mount Findlay and Hamill Peak,
which are both over 3,600 m (12,000 ft).
Many of the Kootenay valley bottoms have been flooded by reservoirs, like
the Mica and the Arrow Lakes country. But in the eastern Kootenays,
where the Kootenay River still runs wild, is found some
of the most important winter ranges for wildlife in North America supporting exceptional populations of elk, deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The Kootenay also provide important habitat for grizzly
and black bear, mountain goat, cougar, wolverine,
grey wolf, lynx, mountain and woodland caribou, and
moose.
The forests at lower elevations in the Kootenay region are predominately interior
cedar-hemlock
in the wetter West Kootenay, and dry interior Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and bunchgrass in the
East Kootenay. At higher altitudes
Engelmann spruce sub-alpine fir forests grow. Thirty rare or
endangered plant species, including alpine butterweed and Lyall's
phacelia are found in the Kootenay Region. Many of these wildflowers and plants are
not found anywhere else in BC.
The Kootenays are named after the First Nations people who originally inhabited
this area, the Kutenai people. |
