Recently, I returned to the daily grind of gathering information, taking photos, writing stories, and covering various community events after spending a week on vacation in British Columbia’s iconic and very beautiful Okanagan Valley.
It was a hard-earned escape from everyday life, one that brought me through the Rocky Mountains, the wineries and fruit farms in Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton, as well as to Osoyoos, home to the only true desert region found anywhere in Canada.
As expected, this desert, located between high arid hills within a stone’s throw of the American border, was hot, especially when I participated in the self-guided interpretive tour that took me through an area dotted with sagebrush, antelope brush, smaller cactuses, ponderosa pine, and other plants that thrive in this unique environment.
There were even signs warning curious tourists to be on the lookout for rattlesnakes - because the last thing somebody wants is to contend with is having their vacation ruined by getting bitten on the leg by one of these slithery creatures.
Canada is renowned for its diverse and picturesque landscapes that range from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to the prairies, mountains, vast boreal forests and even the temperate rainforests found in British Columbia.
While many Canadians don’t associate their country’s geography with deserts, there is a desert in the far south of central British Columbia, one that is a wonder to see in person. There are also semidesert and arid microclimates located in areas of southern BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
These regions of the country offer an opportunity to view landscapes, plants and animals that many people don’t see daily. In the case of the Osoyoos desert, with so many lakes nearby, after spending an hour or so in the burning heat, it’s easy to jump into the chilly waters and get refreshed.
