Canada Has A Desert!

Osoyoos is a lovely small town in the south Okanagan on the shores of a lake by the same name. The name is pronounced O-sue-use and is an Indian word meaning the narrows or the place where two lakes come together.

Prior to the early 1800s, aboriginal peoples inhabited the area, then came the early explorers looking for fur trade routes into the interior of British Columbia. In 1812, the Hudson's Bay Company set up a fur trading post and kept it in operation until 1848. Ranches started to spring up on the dry land and the big breakthrough happened in the late 1800s when irrigation methods enabled this arid land to become prime orchards and vineyards.

Today, Osoyoos is known for agriculture and tourism. The early spring and hot summers bring a wealth of produce such as cherries, asparagus, peaches, plums and apples. Okanagan wines rival what you would find in California and France.

The focal point of recreational activities revolves around Osoyoos Lake. The warm water invites swimming, water skiing, para-sailing, boating and fishing. The southern end of the lake extends into Washington State; therefore, boaters must have prior border approval before crossing into the USA.

Another popular activity is to rent bicycles or motor scooters to ride around town. Golf courses are irrigated to provide a lush setting with barren mountains in the distance. The favorite camping spot and a recreational area is Haynes Point Provincial Park. It is a spit of land jutting into the lake. The sandy beaches attract swimmers, boaters and fishermen. The campsites are on the lakeside so reservations are absolutely required during the summer months.

Located on the north end of Osoyoos Lake, visitors can tour the Haynes' Lease Ecological Reserve. This untouched land is a haven for wildlife. The Desert Center has a long boardwalk where visitors can see deer, coyotes or rattlesnakes.

You will find Canada's only desert in the area extending from Osoyoos Lake to Skaha Lake and then westward up the Similkameen Valley towards Keremeos. The desert is approximately 15 miles long. The average rainfall is less than 12 inches per year and summer temperatures can rise to over 100 degrees. It's a little known fact that this desert extends right through the US and into the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. The plants and animals are found no where else in Canada.

Irrigation has made Osoyoos a green area but areas that are not irrigated are definitely desert-like. It is unfortunate that many plants and animals in the desert are at risk of extinction. There are over 100 rare plants and over 300 rare animals.

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