Covering the extreme west, British Columbia stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Rockies and form the Canadian-US border to the Yukon Territory. The high snowcapped peaks, massive glaciers, rugged ranges, mighty rivers, wild streams and tranquil lakes of this land of beauty attract millions of tourists every year.

Contrary to the belief that all mountains between the Prairies and the Pacific Ocean are the Rockies, this famous mountain range is only one of many in the region. Starting  in the west, the Coast Mountains of British Columbia rise steeply out of the deeply indented and heavily forested Pacific Coast to over 3,000m. North of this chain in the Yukon are the high St. Elias Mountains, which peak with Mount Logan at 5,959m, the highest point in Canada.

It is east of interior plateau, across the Columbia Mountains and the Rocky Mountain Trench, that the Rockies are reached. Rugged, with numerous peaks over 3,000m, they are spotted with glaciers, especially in the area of the Columbia Icefield.

Tremendous variation marks the climate of this region, and elevations range from sea level to nearly 6,100m.  The climate of British Columbia is influenced by the temperate waters of the Pacific. Winters are mild and summers warm, though not hot.

The ongoing transformation of the province's economy is exemplified by the fact that the annual value of the film industry ($1 billion)  has outstripped fisheries ($500 million); high tech ($2.6B) is approaching the significance of mining ($4.6B); and tourism($9B) is surpassed by only forest products ($18B). British Columbia's gross domestic product surpassed $110 billion.