British Columbia offers something for everybody. Awe-inspiring natural beauty, a multitude of outdoor activities and a vibrant cultural scene make diversity the hallmark of Canada's western-most province.

Just north of Washington State, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Alberta, British Columbia is Canada's third largest province. With a surface area measuring 948,000 square kilometers, British Columbia is bigger than any American state (apart from Alaska) and is four times the size of Great Britain.

Almost every imaginable landscape can be found within British Columbia's borders. Some of Canada's highest mountains, lush orchards, an island-speckled ocean, forests bejewelled by some of the world's tallest trees, big-city skylines and even a patch of desert all lie within a day's drive.

The region's weather varies with its terrain. Southern B.C., home to about three-quarters of its population, enjoys warm winters by Canadian standards. For example, Victoria, the provincial capital, averages 4 degrees Celsius in January and 16 degrees in July. Expect much colder winter conditions in the Rockies, the interior and northern British Columbia.

A nature lover's paradise, British Columbia boasts the widest range of plant species in all of Canada including the world's tallest tree, the Sitka spruce, which can reach heights of 95 meters. Mountain goats, moose, caribou, deer and elk are plentiful on land while whales, seals and dolphins can be seen swimming off the Pacific coast.

Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy year-round skiing at resorts like Whistler in the Rocky Mountains. Activities such as salmon fishing, hiking, camping and hunting abound throughout BCs vast forests and within its more than 650 parks and recreational areas.

Not surprisingly, British Columbia has drawn on its abundance of natural resources making mining, forestry, tourism, fishing and agriculture its primary industries. Vancouver is B.C.'s financial capital and most populous city. Its seaport is the busiest in North America.

BC's population is as diverse as its geography. Although most British Columbians are of British descent, various ethnic communities thrive, especially in urban centres. As Canada's chief link to Asia, Vancouver has become home to large Chinese, Japanese and East Indian communities, as well as Italian, and Greek. BC's first inhabitants, native groups such as the Haida, represent about five percent of the population. Visitors immerse themselves in the art- culture at interpretive sites, tours and art exhibitions throughout the province. This is the land of totem poles and exquisitely carved dugout sea canoes.

British Columbia's thriving entertainment scene serves up plenty of music, theatre, festivals and sports events. Three national and international professional big-league sports teams call B.C home, including the Vancouver Grizzlies (basketball), the Vancouver Canucks (hockey) and the B.C. Lions (football).