Shuswap Highland
Encyclopedia
The Shuswap Highland is a plateau
-like hilly area of 14511 km² (5,602.7 sq mi) in British Columbia
, Canada
. It spans the upland area between the Bonaparte
and Thompson Plateau
s from the area of Mahood Lake
, at the southeast corner of the Cariboo Plateau, southeast towards the lower Shuswap River
east of Vernon
in the Okanagan
. The highland is not a unified range. but a combination of small uplands broken up by the valleys of the Clearwater
, North Thompson and Adams River
s and also by the lowlands in the southwest flanking Shuswap Lake
. In that area of the valley are the towns of Falkland
, Westwold
, and Monte Creek
along Highway 97. This area also includes the Spa Hills, and the other isolated pockets of hills and mini-plateaus between the Thompson Plateau proper and Shuswap Lake.
The Shuswap Highland is in essence a foothill (or transitional) area between the much broader interior plateaus southwest and west of it, and the mountainous terrain of the northern Monashee
and Cariboo Mountains
on the east/north-east.
Climates here range from sub-alpine in the mountains, especially further north, to a semi-arid, more temperate, continental climate that is found around Shuswap Lake.
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
-like hilly area of 14511 km² (5,602.7 sq mi) in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It spans the upland area between the Bonaparte
Bonaparte Plateau
The Bonaparte Plateau, in British Columbia, Canada, is a subarea of the larger Cariboo Plateau which extends to the Quesnel River and lies between the Cariboo Mountains on the east and the Fraser River on the west. The Cariboo Plateau is a subarea of the Interior Plateau, aka the Fraser Plateau...
and Thompson Plateau
Thompson Plateau
The Thompson Plateau, also known as the Okanagan-Thompson Plateau, forms the southern portion of the Interior Plateau of British Columbia, Canada, lying to the west of Okanagan Lake, south of the Thompson River and to the east of the Fraser River...
s from the area of Mahood Lake
Mahood Lake
Mahood Lake is a lake in the South Cariboo region of the Interior of British Columbia in Wells Gray Provincial Park. It is drained by the Mahood River, a tributary of the Clearwater River which has cut a deep canyon into Cambrian rocks and Pleistocene glacial moraines...
, at the southeast corner of the Cariboo Plateau, southeast towards the lower Shuswap River
Shuswap River
The basin of the Shuswap River lies northeast of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. It is the upper part of the drainage better known to British Columbians as belonging to Shuswap Lake and the South Thompson River...
east of Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
in the Okanagan
Okanagan
The Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...
. The highland is not a unified range. but a combination of small uplands broken up by the valleys of the Clearwater
Clearwater River (British Columbia)
The Clearwater River is the largest tributary of the North Thompson River, joining it at the community of Clearwater, British Columbia. The Clearwater rises from glaciers in the Cariboo Mountains and flows in a mostly southerly direction for to the North Thompson. Its entire course, except the...
, North Thompson and Adams River
Adams River (British Columbia)
The Adams River is a tributary of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. Beginning in the Monashee Mountains to the north, the Upper Adams River flows mainly southward and eventually reaches Adams Lake. The Lower Adams River begins at the southern end of the lake and flows into the extreme...
s and also by the lowlands in the southwest flanking Shuswap Lake
Shuswap Lake
Shuswap Lake is a lake located in south-central British Columbia, Canada that drains via the Little River into Little Shuswap Lake. Little Shuswap Lake is the source of the South Thompson River, a branch of the Thompson River, a tributary of the Fraser River...
. In that area of the valley are the towns of Falkland
Falkland, British Columbia
Falkland is a small community located in the Okanagan-Shuswap region of British Columbia, Canada between Vernon and Kamloops.Falkland is recognized for one Canada's largest Canadian flags, which is located on Gyp Mountain and can be seen up to 7 km away. The Falkland area has a wide array of...
, Westwold
Westwold, British Columbia
Westwold is an unincorporated settlement in the Interior of British Columbia. A small farming and logging community, it is located between Kamloops and Vernon on Highway 97. The original name for the settlement was "Grand Prairie". Glacial tills near the townsite of Westwold have provided...
, and Monte Creek
Monte Creek, British Columbia
Monte Creek is a rural locality on the South Thompson River east of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, approximately equidistant from Kamloops and the village of Chase, British Columbia. It is mostly notable as a major highway junction where British Columbia Highway 97 branches off from the...
along Highway 97. This area also includes the Spa Hills, and the other isolated pockets of hills and mini-plateaus between the Thompson Plateau proper and Shuswap Lake.
The Shuswap Highland is in essence a foothill (or transitional) area between the much broader interior plateaus southwest and west of it, and the mountainous terrain of the northern Monashee
Monashee Mountains
The Monashee Mountains are a mountain range mostly in British Columbia, Canada, extending into the U.S. state of Washington. They stretch from north to south and from east to west. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains...
and Cariboo Mountains
Cariboo Mountains
The Cariboo Mountains are the northernmost subrange of the Columbia Mountains, which run down into the Spokane, Washington area of the United States and include the Selkirks, Monashees and Purcells. The Cariboo Mountains are entirely within the province of British Columbia, Canada. The range is...
on the east/north-east.
Climates here range from sub-alpine in the mountains, especially further north, to a semi-arid, more temperate, continental climate that is found around Shuswap Lake.
See also
- Okanagan HighlandOkanagan HighlandThe Okanagan Highland is a plateau-like hilly area in British Columbia, Canada, and the U.S. state of Washington . It lies between the Okanagan Valley on its west and the Kettle River on its east, and geologically is more or less an extension of the Thompson Plateau, which lies west of the Okanagan...
- Quesnel HighlandQuesnel HighlandThe Quesnel Highland is a geographic area in the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia. As defined by BC government geographer in Landforms of British Columbia, an account and analysis of British Columbia geography that is often cited as authoritative...
- Geography of British ColumbiaGeography of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, bordered by the Pacific Ocean. With an area of it is Canada's third-largest province. The province is nearly four times the size of Great Britain, two and one-half times larger than Japan and larger than every U.S. state except Alaska. It is...
- Geology of British ColumbiaGeology of British ColumbiaThe geology of British Columbia is a function of its location on the leading edge of the North American continent. The mountainous physiography and the diversity of rock types and ages hint at the complex geology, which is still undergoing revision despite a century of exploration and mapping.The...
- Geology of the Pacific NorthwestGeology of the Pacific NorthwestThe geology of the Pacific Northwest refers to the study of the composition , structure, physical properties and the processes that shape the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada...