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Where is the Cordillera Region located? What is its climate? The Cordillera Region includes British Columbia, the Yukon, and parts of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The Pacific Ocean, found along the western coast of this region, bathes the area in warm moist air. Great mountains soar out of the plains area to the east. Moist air from the Pacific is forced to rise over the huge Rocky Mountains. The air cools as it rises and dumps its precipitation on the western slopes.

The area between the Coast Mountains and the Columbia Mountains is known as the interior plateau. This region, in the valleys between the mountains, is flat and gets much less rain or snow than the western side of the mountains. Summers here can be scorching!

The climate of the Cordillera is varied, being cool and rainy in the south and colder in the north.

Many large rivers flow through this region. The swiftest and largest of these rivers is called the Fraser. The Fraser River has a long journey from its beginning or source in the Rocky Mountains through the interior plain and Coast Mountains, to the Pacific Ocean. Sediment carried by the moving water, has been deposited at the mouth of the river. Over thousands of years, the Fraser River has left its sediment for form flat land or a delta at its mouth. The city of Vancouver and surrounding suburbs have been built on this large delta. The soil is excellent for farming.

What are the resources of the Cordillera Region? In the southern part of the Cordillera Region, there are two giant hydroelectric dams. Other natural resources in this area include mining gold, copper, asbestos, gravel, silver, zinc and lead. Minerals mined in the Cordillera Region are sold all over the world

The Cordillera Region is best known for its forestry. Softwood from the many coniferous trees is used to make pulp and paper products. The thickest forests in Canada, found in the Cordillera Region, are used to make paper, plywood, furniture and cardboard. Forests can be re-grown, so they are known as renewable resources. Vancouver Island’s west coast has the oldest and tallest trees in Canada. Western Cedar trees that are 1300 years old can be found here. The oldest tree in Canada is found her, a Skia, which is 95 metres tall. This area gets the most rain of the Cordillera Region, making it a rain forest climate of moist, warm air.

The Pacific Ocean and the rivers and lakes in the Cordillera make this region a prime area for fishing salmon, and other kinds of fish. Salmon is an important resources in this area, and disputes have raged over the rights of various groups to fish these salmon.