Spatsizi Plateau
Encyclopedia
The Spatsizi Plateau is a plateau
in the upper basin of the Stikine River
in north-central British Columbia
, Canada
. Most of the plateau, which is a sub-plateau of the Stikine Plateau
, is enshrined in either Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park
or Spatsizi Headwaters Provincial Park
. It is flanked on the south and southwest by the Skeena Mountains
, on the southeast by the Omineca Mountains
, on the northeast by the Stikine Ranges
of the Cassiar Mountains
, and on the west by the Klastline Plateau
(another subplateau of the Stikine Plateau).
meaning "red goat", a reference to the habit of mountain goats in the area rolling on a particular red-coloured mountain, turning their coats red (tspah=goat, tsije=red).
, dissected by river valleys, and contains various small mountain ranges. Both the Stikine
and Spatsizi River
s have their sources in the plateau.
. Other fauna in the area include mountain goat
s, moose
, grizzlies
and wolves.
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...
in the upper basin of the Stikine River
Stikine River
The Stikine River is a river, historically also the Stickeen River, approximately 610 km long, in northwestern British Columbia in Canada and southeastern Alaska in the United States...
in north-central 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...
. Most of the plateau, which is a sub-plateau of the Stikine Plateau
Stikine Plateau
The Stikine Plateau is a plateau in northern British Columbia, Canada. It lies between the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains on the west and southwest and the Cassiar Mountains along its northeast, and between the Skeena Mountains on its south and southeast and the Jennings and Nakina Rivers...
, is enshrined in either Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park
Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park
Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, protecting most of the Spatsizi Plateau, the southeasternmost subplateau of the Stikine Plateau, and the upper reaches of the basin of the Stikine River.-History:...
or Spatsizi Headwaters Provincial Park
Spatsizi Headwaters Provincial Park
Spatsizi Headwaters Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It was established in 2001 and contains ~427 ha., protecting the headwaters of the Spatsizi River. It is located just east of Mount Gunanoot and to the south of the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial...
. It is flanked on the south and southwest by the Skeena Mountains
Skeena Mountains
The Skeena Mountains, also known as the Skeenas, are a subrange of the Interior Mountains of northern British Columbia, Canada, essentially flanking the upper basin of the Skeena River. They lie just inland from the southern end of the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, and also of the...
, on the southeast by the Omineca Mountains
Omineca Mountains
The Omineca Mountains, also known as "the Ominecas", are a group of remote mountain ranges in north-central British Columbia, Canada. They are bounded by the Finlay River on the north, the Rocky Mountain Trench on the east, the Nation River on the south, and the upper reaches of the Omineca River...
, on the northeast by the Stikine Ranges
Stikine Ranges
The Stikine Ranges are a mountain range in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. They are the northernmost subdivision of the Cassiar Mountains and among the least explored and most undeveloped parts of the province.-Sub-ranges:*Beady Range...
of the Cassiar Mountains
Cassiar Mountains
The Cassiar Mountains are the most northerly group of the Northern Interior Mountains in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. They lie north and west of the Omineca Mountains, west of the northernmost Rockies and the Rocky Mountain Trench, north of the Hazelton...
, and on the west by the Klastline Plateau
Klastline Plateau
The Klastline Plateau is a plateau in the Stikine Country of the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. A subplateau of the Stikine Plateau, it is located between the Stikine River , the upper Iskut River , Mess Creek and the Klappan River...
(another subplateau of the Stikine Plateau).
Name
The name is an adaptation of a phrase in the Sekani languageSekani language
The Sekani language is a Northern Athabaskan language spoken by the Sekani people of north-central British Columbia, Canada.-Consonants:Sekani has 33 consonants:* *Sekani, like other Athabaskan languages, does not contrast fricatives with approximants....
meaning "red goat", a reference to the habit of mountain goats in the area rolling on a particular red-coloured mountain, turning their coats red (tspah=goat, tsije=red).
Geology and terrain
The plateau is a large lava plateauVolcanic plateau
A volcanic plateau is a plateau produced by volcanic activity. There are two main types: lava plateaus and pyroclastic plateaus.-Lava plateau:...
, dissected by river valleys, and contains various small mountain ranges. Both the Stikine
Stikine River
The Stikine River is a river, historically also the Stickeen River, approximately 610 km long, in northwestern British Columbia in Canada and southeastern Alaska in the United States...
and Spatsizi River
Spatsizi River
The Spatsizi River is a tributary of the Stikine River, rising near Mount Gunanoot in the southeastern Spatsizi Plateau."Spatsizi" is a phrase from the Sekani language meaning "red goat", a reference to the habit of mountain goats in the region of rolling in the red dust of a particular mountain,...
s have their sources in the plateau.
Climate
The climate of the plateau, which is of high altitude, is sub-arctic in nature. Isolated from the moisture of the Pacific Ocean by successive walls of mountains and other plateaus, the Spatsizi is semi-arid in many areas.Fauna
The Spatsizi Plateau is the range of the largest remaining herd of woodland caribou in British ColumbiaBritish 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...
. Other fauna in the area include mountain goat
Mountain goat
The Mountain Goat , also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. Despite its vernacular name, it is not a member of Capra, the genus of true goats...
s, moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, grizzlies
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
and wolves.