Montane Cordillera

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The Montane Cordillera is a geographic feature in south-central British Columbia and southwestern Alberta, Canada. A fertile ecozone spanning 473,000 square kilometres, it contains "two of the few significant agricultural areas of the province",[1] Creston Valley and the Okanagan Valley. Primarily a mountainous region, it consists of rugged ecosystems such as alpine tundra, dry sagebrush and dense conifer forests.[2] The interior plains are encircled by a ring of mountains.[3] The area has a mild climate throughout the year, with typically dry summers and wet winters.[4]

It contains the headwaters for the Fraser and Columbia rivers. Within the ecozone are also found:[5]

It is bordered to the west by the Pacific Maritime ecozone, to the north by the Boreal Cordillera, to the northeast by the Boreal Plains, and to the southeast by the Prairies.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Human Activities in the Montane Cordillera Ecozone. Environment Canada. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ Montane Cordillera. Evergreen Native Plants Database. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Montane Cordillera Ecozone. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Bernhardt, Torsten. Montane Cordillera. Canada's Ecozones, Canadian Biodiversity project. McGill University, Redpath Museum. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada. Teacher Resource Centre. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
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