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Domestic Profile - British Columbia

Flag

Picture of BC Flag

Geography
Location

Located in the Pacific Rim and equidistant between Asia, Europe and South America. British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada, is bounded on the East by Alberta, on the South by Montana, Idaho, and Washington, on the West by the Pacific Ocean, on the NorthWest by Alaska, and on the North by the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories.

Climate

The climate of British Columbia varies from marine to continental, and is influenced by its location immediately east of the warm Pacific Ocean, the north-south orientation of its towering mountain chains, the mountainous topography, the prevailing westerly winds, and the province's northerly latitude. Summers tend to be dry throughout most of BC. In winter, the province is affected occasionally by much colder, drier air from the Arctic.

Government Type (Canada)

Confederation with parliamentary democracy

Capital

Victoria

People
Population

4.1 million (approximately)

Life Expectancy at Birth (Canada)

total population: 80.1 years
male: 76.73 years
female: 83.63 years (2005 est.)

Ethnic Groups (Canada)

British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Religions (Canada)

Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)

Languages (Canada)

English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%

Currency

Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Communications

Excellent telephone service, numerous radio and television stations, extensive internet access.

Transportation (Canada)

48,683 km of Railways, 1,408,800 km of highways, 1,326 airports (503 with paved runways), 12 heliports.