Fraser River Canyon

The Fraser River Canyon was formed during the Miocene period (22.9-5.33 million years ago) when the river cut down into the uplifting southern part of the Interior Plateau of British Columbia. The canyon characteristics of this middle section of the FRASER RIVER extend about 270 km north of Yale to the Fraser's confluence with the Chilcotin River. At HELLS GATE, south of Boston Bar, the canyon walls rise about 1000 m above the narrow, rushing river. Two transcontinental railways and the TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY have been carved into the rocky canyon sides. Fish ladders were built along the river's side to permit migrating PACIFIC SALMON to pass a former rockslide that partially blocked the river. During the FRASER RIVER GOLD RUSH of the late 1850s, 30 000 gold seekers searched the lower section of the canyon for gold.

Author J. LEWIS ROBINSON

Links to Other Sites
The Colonial Despatches
View digitized copies of correspondence (dated 1846 - 1859) between the British Colonial Office and the "colonies" of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. Search or browse this site for references to specific individuals, communities, companies, or industries in the province. Also includes digitized images of maps of various locations. From the website for the University of Victoria.

The Edge of the World: BC's Early Years
Watch a series of short films about the events, people, and places that shaped British Columbia's early history. Features a wealth of archival photographs. From knowledge.ca.

One of Canada's earliest roads: the Cariboo
A CBC Radio audio clip about the history of the harrowing Cariboo Wagon Road in BC.

Hell's Gate
A tourist guide to the Hell's Gate region of the Fraser Canyon in British Columbia. From the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains website.

Archival Research on the Traditional Use and Occupation of (First Nations lands in British Columbia)
A review of archival material documenting the history of First Nations communities in British Columbia and their early encounters with European settlers.