259 



THE CANYON OF FRASER RIVER. 



Physical Features. 



Above Lytton the Fraser flows through the Interior 

 Plateau region, but from that point down to the head of 

 the delta below Hope it is closely hemmed in by the high 

 mountains of the Cascade lange on the one side and of 

 the Coast range on the other. These two mountain systems 

 overlap each other for about ioo miles (161 km.) and in 



Entrance to Fraser canyon above Yale, with Lady Franklin Rock in the middle of 



the stream. 



the break between the over-lapping edges the river forces 

 a difficult passage until it eventually emerges from them 

 at the head of the delta, to pass around the southern end 

 of the Coast range. This part of Fraser valley is, properly 

 speaking, the canyon of the river though it has become 

 customary when speaking of "Fraser Canyon" to refer 

 to an inner gorge-like constriction 25 miles (40 km.) in 

 length extending from North Bend to Yale. 



Throughout its length the main canyon is deep and 

 bordered by mountains which in places reach an altitude 

 of 7,000 feet (2,133 m above the sea. The sides of the 

 valley are generally rocky and steep, though the degree 

 of slope varies with the nature of the rocks in which it 

 is cut. For example, it is narrow and very steep-sided where 



