Western Canada.

GMT - 8. Small areas of the province near the Alberta border are GMT - 7.

924,815 sq km (357,073 sq miles).

4.1 million (official census 2006).

4.4 per sq km.

Victoria. Population: 334,000 (2005 estimate).

British Columbia is Canada's most westerly province, bordered to the south by the USA (Washington, Idaho and Montana states), to the east by Alberta, to the north by the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean and the ‘Alaska Panhandle'. It is mainly covered by virgin forests, and encompasses the towering Rocky Mountains (rising to 3,954m/12,972ft), vast expanses of semi-arid sagebrush, lush pastures on Vancouver Island's east coast, farmland in the Fraser River delta, and fruitland in the Okanagan Valley. The highest mountain is Fairweather at 4,663m (15,298ft). Between the eastern and coastal mountains is a lower central range. The coastal range sinks into the Pacific, with larger peaks emerging at Vancouver and Queen Charlotte islands. The Columbia River flows from the Rockies into Washington State and out into the Pacific Ocean.

Although Canada is officially bilingual (English and French), English is more commonly spoken in British Columbia.