Marble Canyon (British Columbia)
Encyclopedia
Marble Canyon is a small canyon in the south-central Interior of British Columbia
, Canada
a few kilometres east of the Fraser River
and the community of Pavilion, British Columbia
, approximately midway between the towns of Lillooet
and Cache Creek
. A collapsed karst
formation, the canyon's name comes from the brilliant limestone
of its walls. Despite the name, however, the bedrock is microcrystalline limestone (sedimentary rock) rather than marble
(metamorphic rock). The north wall is over 965m (3150') high above Pavilion Lake
and is the southernmost extent of the Marble Range
; the south wall is c. 515m (1500') and is the northern extremity of the Clear Range
. Higher peaks lie in behind the walls, increasing the depth if measured from their summits.
is, when referring to the whole, sxmeltám, possibly referring to "Indian doctors"
, while the name for the area of Crown and Turquoise Lakes and the provincial campground and adjoining south wall is getsgátsp, of unknown meaning. These areas and Pavilion Lake, in addition to being provincial park, are also governed by special cultural rights and have important spiritual significance of the Pavilion Band
. In addition to the steep walls rising from the lake's southeastern end, there is an eroded pinnacle known as Chimney Rock, or in a translation of K'lpalekw, the Secwepemc
(Shuswap
) name for it, Coyote's Penis.
via Pavilion Creek. The largest of these is Pavilion Lake, which is home to a very large colony of microbialites (also known as stromatolite
s), unusual carbonate structures built by bacteria which resemble freshwater "coral" and which are the largest freshwater stromatolites in the world.
to Cache Creek
.
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
, 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...
a few kilometres east of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
and the community of Pavilion, British Columbia
Pavilion, British Columbia
Pavilion is a ranching and Indian Reserve community in the Fraser Canyon area of British Columbia, Canada. Most of the community is the population of the Pavilion 1 Indian Reserve of the Pavilion Indian Band, aka the Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation but there are also a number of ranches in the...
, approximately midway between the towns of Lillooet
Lillooet, British Columbia
Lillooet is a community on the Fraser River in western Canada, about up the British Columbia Railway line from Vancouver. Situated at an intersection of deep gorges in the lee of the Coast Mountains, it has a dry climate- of precipitation is recorded annually at the town's weather station,...
and Cache Creek
Cache Creek, British Columbia
Cache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
. A collapsed karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
formation, the canyon's name comes from the brilliant limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
of its walls. Despite the name, however, the bedrock is microcrystalline limestone (sedimentary rock) rather than marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
(metamorphic rock). The north wall is over 965m (3150') high above Pavilion Lake
Pavilion Lake
Pavilion Lake is a lake in Marble Canyon, British Columbia, Canada. It is located between the towns of Lillooet and Cache Creek and lies along BC Highway 99, five and a half highway miles from Pavilion, British Columbia...
and is the southernmost extent of the Marble Range
Marble Range
The Marble Range is a small mountain range adjoining the Fraser River on the southwestern edge of the Cariboo Plateau of British Columbia. It has an area of 1,250 square kilometres and about 65 km NNW to SSE and about 20 km wide...
; the south wall is c. 515m (1500') and is the northern extremity of the Clear Range
Clear Range
The Clear Range is a small mountain range located in the angle of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers in south-central British Columbia. It has a small subdivision just northeast of that confluence named the Scarped Range...
. Higher peaks lie in behind the walls, increasing the depth if measured from their summits.
Aboriginal names
The native name of the canyon in the Shuswap languageShuswap language
The Shuswap language, known to its speakers as Secwepemctsín , is the traditional language of the Shuswap people of British Columbia. An endangered language, Shuswap is spoken mainly in the Central and Southern interior of British Columbia between the Fraser River and the Rocky Mountains...
is, when referring to the whole, sxmeltám, possibly referring to "Indian doctors"
Witch doctor
A witch doctor originally referred to a type of healer who treated ailments believed to be caused by witchcraft. It is currently used to refer to healers in some third world regions, who use traditional healing rather than contemporary medicine...
, while the name for the area of Crown and Turquoise Lakes and the provincial campground and adjoining south wall is getsgátsp, of unknown meaning. These areas and Pavilion Lake, in addition to being provincial park, are also governed by special cultural rights and have important spiritual significance of the Pavilion Band
Pavilion Indian Band
The Pavilion Indian Band or Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation or Tsk'waylacw First Nation or Tsk'weylecw First Nation, and also known in the plural e.g. Ts'kw'alaxw First Nations, is a First Nations government, located in the Fraser Canyon region of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British...
. In addition to the steep walls rising from the lake's southeastern end, there is an eroded pinnacle known as Chimney Rock, or in a translation of K'lpalekw, the Secwepemc
Secwepemc
The Secwepemc , known in English as the Shuswap people, are a First Nations people residing in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Their traditional territory ranges from the eastern Chilcotin Plateau and the Cariboo Plateau southeast through the Thompson Country to Kamloops and the Shuswap...
(Shuswap
Shuswap language
The Shuswap language, known to its speakers as Secwepemctsín , is the traditional language of the Shuswap people of British Columbia. An endangered language, Shuswap is spoken mainly in the Central and Southern interior of British Columbia between the Fraser River and the Rocky Mountains...
) name for it, Coyote's Penis.
Stromatolites - "freshwater coral"
Within the canyon are a series of lakes draining towards the Fraser RiverFraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
via Pavilion Creek. The largest of these is Pavilion Lake, which is home to a very large colony of microbialites (also known as stromatolite
Stromatolite
Stromatolites or stromatoliths are layered accretionary structures formed in shallow water by the trapping, binding and cementation of sedimentary grains by biofilms of microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria ....
s), unusual carbonate structures built by bacteria which resemble freshwater "coral" and which are the largest freshwater stromatolites in the world.
Rock and ice climbing
Marble Canyon is popular with climbers, both for its clean rock walls and also for excellent ice climbs, including one waterfall that freezes solid midwinter (officially Crown Lake Falls but to climbers, "Icy BC"), and which is immediately opposite the provincial park campground adjacent to Highway 99 from LillooetLillooet, British Columbia
Lillooet is a community on the Fraser River in western Canada, about up the British Columbia Railway line from Vancouver. Situated at an intersection of deep gorges in the lee of the Coast Mountains, it has a dry climate- of precipitation is recorded annually at the town's weather station,...
to Cache Creek
Cache Creek, British Columbia
Cache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
.
See also
- Marble Canyon Provincial ParkMarble Canyon Provincial ParkMarble Canyon Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, established in 1956 to protect Marble Canyon, a limestone formation at the south end of the Marble Range...
- Marble Canyon 3Marble Canyon 3Marble Canyon 3, properly and most commonly referred to as Marble Canyon Indian Reserve No. 3, is an Indian Reserve of the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation , located at the southeast end of Marble Canyon, adjacent to BC Highway 99 just northwest of the Upper Hat Creek junction, which is about midway...
(Indian Reserve) - Pavilion, British ColumbiaPavilion, British ColumbiaPavilion is a ranching and Indian Reserve community in the Fraser Canyon area of British Columbia, Canada. Most of the community is the population of the Pavilion 1 Indian Reserve of the Pavilion Indian Band, aka the Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation but there are also a number of ranches in the...
- Pavilion LakePavilion LakePavilion Lake is a lake in Marble Canyon, British Columbia, Canada. It is located between the towns of Lillooet and Cache Creek and lies along BC Highway 99, five and a half highway miles from Pavilion, British Columbia...
- Hat Creek (British Columbia)Hat Creek (British Columbia)Hat Creek is a tributary of the Bonaparte River in British Columbia, Canada, joining that stream at Carquile, which is also known as Lower Hat Creek and is the site of the Hat Creek Ranch heritage museum and visitor centre...
- Upper Hat Creek, British ColumbiaUpper Hat Creek, British ColumbiaUpper Hat Creek is a rural locality and ranching community in British Columbia, Canada, located roughly midway between the towns of Cache Creek and Lillooet, located near the headwaters of Hat Creek. Comprising the upper basin of Hat Creek the area is home to some of the oldest ranches in British...
- Upper Hat Creek 1 (Indian Reserve)
- Lower Hat Creek, British Columbia (Carquile/Hat Creek Ranch)
- Lower Hat Creek 2 (Indian Reserve)