Discover Mountains, Forests, and Waterways Near You!

Natural features are parts of the land and water that are made by nature, not by people. You can find natural features like mountains, forests, and waterways all around you. In British Columbia, these features are everywhere!

You already know about natural features and human structures from Local Environment Natural Features and Human Structures. Now you will learn even more about specific natural features in your community.

A mountain is a very tall piece of land that rises high above the ground around it. The very top of a mountain is called the peak. Many peaks in British Columbia are covered with snow all year long!

The Rocky Mountains are famous mountains in British Columbia. Mountains store fresh water as snow and ice. When the snow melts, it flows down and becomes a river. The low land between mountains is called a valley. Mountains also slow down wind and rain.

A forest is a large area covered with many tall trees growing close together. British Columbia is famous for its thick green forests. You can find tall trees like the Douglas fir and the cedar growing in BC forests.

Forests are home to many animals like bears and deer. Animals find food like berries and nuts in the forest. Trees also give you clean, fresh air to breathe! Tree roots hold the soil in place so rain does not wash it away. The floor of a BC forest is covered with soft moss and fallen leaves.

A waterway is a body of water that flows or sits on the land. There are different kinds of waterways you can learn about. A river is water that flows and moves from one place to another. A lake is a large body of still water surrounded by land.

The Fraser River is one of the longest rivers in British Columbia. It flows from the mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Salmon are famous fish that swim up BC rivers. People use rivers for fresh drinking water. The Pacific Ocean touches the west coast of British Columbia.

A creek or stream is a small, narrow waterway that flows through the land. A pond is a small, still body of water, like a tiny lake. A waterfall is when water flows over rocks and falls down.

Mountain: A mountain is a very tall, rocky landform that rises high above the ground around it. You can see mountains like the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia.

Peak: The peak is the very top of a mountain. Many peaks in BC are covered with snow all year long.

Valley: A valley is the low land that sits between mountains or hills. Many rivers in BC flow through valleys.

Forest: A forest is a large area covered with many trees growing close together. British Columbia has some of the biggest forests in Canada.

River: A river is water that flows and moves across the land toward the sea or a lake. The Fraser River is a well-known river in BC.

Lake: A lake is a large body of still water that has land all around it. British Columbia has thousands of beautiful lakes.

Creek: A creek is a small, narrow waterway that flows through the land. Creeks are smaller than rivers but still have moving water.

Pond: A pond is a small, still body of water that is much smaller than a lake. You can find ponds in many forests and fields.

Waterfall: A waterfall is when water flows over a ledge or rocks and falls down. Waterfalls are found along rivers and streams.

Waterway: A waterway is any body of water on the land, like a river, lake, creek, or pond.

You can look for natural features near your home or school. Can you spot a hill, a stream, or a group of trees? These are all natural features! You will also learn about Basic Mapping Concepts to help you find and draw natural features on a map.

Think about how people use natural features every day. People drink water from rivers, breathe air made by forests, and visit mountains to ski and hike. Learning about Caring for Our Surroundings will help you understand how to protect these special places.

You have already learned about Local Environment Natural Features and Human Structures and Community Places. These topics helped you understand the difference between things made by nature and things made by people. Now you are ready to learn more about specific natural features!

Learning about natural features connects to many other exciting topics. You can explore Features of Our Community to see how natural features are part of where you live. You will also learn about People and Places to understand how people live near mountains, forests, and waterways.

Natural features are connected to how people use the land. You can learn about Natural Resource Industries Mining Forestry and Energy Production to see how forests and mountains give us important resources. You will also discover Civic and Environmental Duties People and Planet Stewardship to learn how you can help take care of nature.

Water is a very important natural feature. You will learn about Water and Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Impact to understand how water is cleaned and used in communities. You can also explore how Population Growth and Community Development affects natural features as more people move to an area.

This topic prepares you for even more exciting learning ahead! You will soon explore Types of Landforms Mountains Valleys and Plains and Types of Water Bodies Oceans Lakes Rivers in more detail. You will also discover Regional Biodiversity Plants and Animals Across Diverse Ecosystems and learn about Climate and Geography Impact. Understanding natural features also helps you learn about Human Effects on Nature and Environmental Consequences of Economic Activities.