Okanagan Highland
Encyclopedia
The Okanagan Highland is a plateau
-like hilly area in British Columbia
, Canada
, and the U.S. state
of Washington (where it is spelled Okanogan Highland). 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. Its northern perimeter is the valley of the Shuswap River
, while its southern limit is the FDR Reservoir (the impounded Columbia River
above Grand Coulee Dam
) in Washington State. Some definitions may place the northern limit at the Coldstream Valley, east of Vernon, British Columbia
, as that is the southern limit of the Shuswap Highland
.
The highest summit of the Highland is Big White Mountain
, at its northeastern extremity, which is also the highest summit of the Beaverdell Range
, a mountain range which extends south from Big White between the Kettle and West Kettle River
s. Other notable summits are Okanagan Mountain
, Little White Mountain
, Mount Baldy
, and Mount Bonaparte, which is the highest summit in the US portion of the Highland.
The Okanagan Highland is the source of several rivers in addition to the Kettle and West Kettle, including the Sanpoil River
.
To the east of the Okanagan Highland are the Monashee Mountains
, some definitions of which include the Okanagan Highland as well as portions of the Shuswap Highland.
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 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...
, and the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington (where it is spelled Okanogan Highland). It lies between the Okanagan Valley
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...
on its west and the Kettle River
Kettle River (Columbia River)
The Kettle River is a tributary of the Columbia River in northeastern Washington in the United States and southeastern British Columbia in Canada. Its drainage basin is large, of which are in Canada and in the United States.-Course:...
on its east, and geologically is more or less an extension of the 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...
, which lies west of the Okanagan. Its northern perimeter is the valley of the 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...
, while its southern limit is the FDR Reservoir (the impounded Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
above Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
) in Washington State. Some definitions may place the northern limit at the Coldstream Valley, east of Vernon, British Columbia
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...
, as that is the southern limit of the Shuswap Highland
Shuswap Highland
The Shuswap Highland is a plateau-like hilly area of in British Columbia, Canada. It spans the upland area between the Bonaparte and Thompson Plateaus 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...
.
The highest summit of the Highland is Big White Mountain
Big White Mountain
Big White Mountain , also commonly called Big White, a reference shared by, and most commonly used to mean, the Big White Ski Resort built around its summit, is the highest mountain of the Okanagan Highland and also of the Beaverdell Range, a subrange of that formation, which lies between the...
, at its northeastern extremity, which is also the highest summit of the Beaverdell Range
Beaverdell Range
The Beaverdell Range is a subrange of the Okanagan Highland in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, located between the West Kettle and Kettle Rivers, and running nearly due south from Big White Mountain, which is its highest summit, and the highest in the Okanagan Highland, and lies near the...
, a mountain range which extends south from Big White between the Kettle and West Kettle River
West Kettle River
The West Kettle River is a tributary of the Kettle River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is part of the Columbia River basin, as the Kettle River is a tributary of the Columbia River.-Course:...
s. Other notable summits are Okanagan Mountain
Okanagan Mountain
Okanagan Mountain is a mountain in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, located on the east side of Okanagan Lake on the immediate south of the city of Kelowna and north of Penticton...
, Little White Mountain
Little White Mountain
Little White Mountain is a mountain near the city of Kelowna, BC, Canada, near the central Okanagan Valley. It has an elevation of 2,171 meters. It is a significant destination for backcountry recreation, with backcountry skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling opportunities...
, Mount Baldy
Mount Baldy
Mount Baldy or Baldy Mountain may refer to:* Baldy Mountain * Mount Baldy * Mount Baldy * Mount Baldy * Mount Baldy...
, and Mount Bonaparte, which is the highest summit in the US portion of the Highland.
The Okanagan Highland is the source of several rivers in addition to the Kettle and West Kettle, including the Sanpoil River
Sanpoil River
The Sanpoil River is a tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. The term Sanpoil is from the Okanagan term [snpʕʷílx], meaning "people of the gray country", or "gray as far as one can see".-Course:...
.
To the east of the Okanagan Highland are the Monashee Mountains
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...
, some definitions of which include the Okanagan Highland as well as portions of the Shuswap Highland.
See also
- 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...
- Shuswap HighlandShuswap HighlandThe Shuswap Highland is a plateau-like hilly area of in British Columbia, Canada. It spans the upland area between the Bonaparte and Thompson Plateaus 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...
- 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...