Travel through ancient history, visualise the volcanism in the Okanagan, imagine mountain building forces, envision the landscape 12,000 years ago when Glacial Lake Penticton stretched for two hundred kilometres or more, and discover the beginnings of present day Okanagan Lake and area. These are just a few of the fascinating subjects in this account of Okanagan geology.
This book is designed for the local lay-person, visitors, and as a resource guide for educators. It focuses on the geologic landmarks of the area and how geology has influenced the evolution of the present landscape and touched the lives of everyone. It is hoped that information provided will enrich the visitor, inspire earth science students and offer everyone a new perspective on the natural history of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Profits from the book will be dedicated to the Kelowna Geology Committee Award endowment fund for geological, water science, engineering and archeology students, and for local projects to enhance the awareness of geologic history.
The second edition published in 2004 was substantially modified. The climate change chapter was re-written, and new sections on the geology of the Kettle Valley Railway, Mount Boucherie, and Bear Creek Provincial Park were added. A special feature described the potential geohazards of the Kelowna 2003 Firestorm and the impact on the Okanagan watershed affected by the Okanagan Mountain Park forest fire. Other additions included an account of the gems in the Okanagan bedrock near Kelowna, the birth of Canada’s diamond exploration capital, a chapter on the geology of Okanagan Valley wines, and features along the Mission Creek Greenway and Scenic Canyon Regional Park.
This third edition has been further edited, and includes an Addendum that reports on new discoveries and projects that have developed in the last ten years. A very old glaciation was discovered in 2009 and called the West Kelowna Advance. This glaciation occurred approximately one million years ago, and was part of a regional ice dome that occupied the interior of British Columbia. A variety of spectacular bottom features in Okanagan Lake were discovered in 2009 during side-scanning sonar surveys of the lake bottom. The Geological Survey of Canada in 2013 released a coloured bedrock geology map presenting a compilation for the entire Okanagan Watershed, and a new surficial geology map of the Kelowna area was published in 2009. Of major public interest the William R. Bennett Bridge opened in 2008. The Addendum includes a detailed account of how this bridge was built, written by the engineer who designed it.
