Thompson-Okanagan

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Inland from Vancouver, the Thompson-Okanagan region is a popular tourist destination with a sunny climate, sprawling lakes, and a relaxed lifestyle.

Thompson Okanagan Map

This region is rich in Indigenous culture, sun-soaked valleys surrounded by sweeping grasslands, and is connected throughout by water.

Home to the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and Canada’s only desert, the Thompson-Okanagan’s natural wonders are matched by its active spirit and world-class vineyards.

Public post-secondary institutions in this region include Okanagan College, Thompson-Rivers University, and the University of British Columbia-Okanagan.

Photo: Thompson Rivers University

Fun facts about the Thompson-Okanagan region

  1. This region has more wineries than any other province in Canada. 200 and counting!

  2. Helmcken Falls, in Wells Gray Provincial Park, is the fourth largest waterfall in Canada measured by a total straight drop without a break at 141 metres (463 feet).

  3. Okanagan Lake’s most famous resident is the Ogopogo, originally named N’Ha-a-itk or ‘Lake Serpent Spirit’ by the area’s Indigenous peoples, a lake monster that has become legendary in Canadian folklore.

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