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Title: Canada's only desert Written by: bio_man on Aug 16, 2019 (https://biology-forums.com/gallery/40/6_16_08_19_1_04_47.jpeg) (https://biology-forums.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=40284) You probably wouldn't associate Canada with having any deserts, since the country is typically attributed with winters that are long and harsh. However, that's not entirely true if you visit the southern region of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada, known as the Okanagan Desert. In this area, summer temperatures regularly exceed 38˚C (100 °F), and portions of the area receive roughly 250 to 300 mm (10 to 12 inches) of rain per year – compare that to Vancouver, which receives approximately 1120 mm (43 inches) of rain per year. While some areas in British Columbia experience hotter summer temperatures and are at least as arid, the South Okanagan area is home to several species of plants and animals that are not found elsewhere in Canada. For example, the Great Basin spadefoot, the Behr's hairstreak butterfly and the desert night snake are only found here; it is the presence of these species and 80 others that make the area distinct from other semi-desert areas in British Columbia. Despite its name, the Okanagan Desert isn't actually a desert. Rather, it is more properly called a shrub-steppe (a type of low rainfall natural grassland). To be called a desert, the aridity index (here it is between 0.3 and 0.4) must be less than 0.2; this index is calculated by taking the precipitation and dividing it by the potential evapotranspiration (similar to evaporation). Nonetheless, it is a special ecosystem in its own right, and deserves the recognition it has received. Comments: It's an interesting place. Id like to visit it Written by: Katherine Kat on May 12, 2021 Our planet has a great variety of incredible places, climate zones, flora, and fauna. I've been here, and I can say that it looks amazing and unusual for Canada. In my opinion, people should do everything possible to protect such places. There is a lot of educational content, e.g., concerning environmental issues, which are helpful for students and those who are interested in this. There is a lot of possibilities to save our planet and prevent climate changes. It's all about people's desire to do that. Written by: Sam on May 12, 2021 |