Cordillera- Location The Cordillera is located on the west coast of Canada and includes British Columbia, the Yukon, southwest Alberta and part of North West Territories.

Cordillera-Climate Winter near the coast in the Cordillera is usually rainy with temperatures above freezing.

Cordillera-Climate Central and northern Cordillera tend to be very cold with much snow. The mountainous terrain and the distance from the equator causes much snow to fall.

Cordillera-Climate In the summer, it is warmer and there is less rain. Most of the people in the Cordillera live in extreme south lowlands [Vancouver] and southern plateau due to the warmer climate.  

Cordillera-Climate Heavy rain and snow on the Coast Mountains give rise to luxuriant forests and maintain extensive snowfields and glaciers at relatively low elevations.

Cordillera-Landforms The landscape of the Cordillera has long chains of high rugged mountains. This includes the Rocky Mountains and the Coastal Mountains.

Cordillera-Landforms The Cordillera also includes plateaus, valleys and plains as well as rugged mountains.

Cordillera-Natural Resources Forests, which are a natural resource, cover most of the Cordillera. Soil, here, is ideal for trees to grow in this region. In the Cordillera, the trees grow mainly on the mountains that cover most of this region. The mountains on the east coast are called the Mackenzie Mountains. On the west side, some of Canada's largest mountains can be found. One is called Mount Logan.

Cordillera-Natural Resources One of the natural resources is minerals found in the mountainous terrain. The mountains were formed millions of years ago when the earth's plates were unstable and moving. The minerals were formed inside the different rocks that created the mountains.

Cordillera-Natural Resources The third natural resource is water. Ice glaciers from approximately 18 million years ago began to melt, digging out holes that were filled by the melted water. The fresh water in this region is mainly replenished through snow in the mountains.

Cordillera-Natural Resources The final natural resource in this area are fish. Fish are a natural resource because of the physical geography of the Pacific Ocean which meets the western shoreline.

Cordillera-Industry Forestry in the Cordillera is one of the largest industries. With over 200 sawmills, it produces 80% of Canada's paper. The soil within the Cordillera provides nutrients and water that these trees need for growth.

Cordillera-Industry Fishing within the ocean also provides many jobs here. Seventeen percent of the people who live in the Cordillera are part of the fishing industry. In the past it has been the second most important industry in this region.

Cordillera-Industry Mining is the third largest industry in this region. Here they mine mainly for coal, gold, zinc, copper, lead, silver, iron, and nickel.

Cordillera-Industry Tourism is the fourth main industry with it's land, beautiful mountains, lakes and attractions that keep the tourists coming back year after year.

Cordillera-Industry Farming is one of the least common industries in this area as only little of the land is suitable for farming. Most of the crops and fruit produced come from the Okanogan Valley.