Atlin

[admin]

We have just returned from a trip and writing assignment to the townsite of Atlin. We went to our well-used copy of Encyclopedia of BC to get some more information about Atlin Lake and the surrounding region, but were quite dismayed to find nothing. Did we miss something?


While in Atlin we learned: Atlin lake is BC's largest freshwater lake. Birch Mountain, on Teresa Island on the west side of the lake is the tallest freshwater mountain in the world (2060 metres). Atlin lake has some of the purest water in the world, and is still used, untreated, as drinking water. The nearby Taku River is the last remaining untamed river in BC without a road within 160 kilometres. Atlin is BC's most northwesterly community. Of its 400 inhabitants, about 100 call themselves artisits. And the gold found on Pine Creek that flows by Atlin was the last big placer gold discovery during the Klondike Gold Rush (in January 1898).


While we love our EBC, we notice that it has fallen into the trap that believes that northern BC is around Prince George.....while 3/5 of our province still lies to the north of that.


Cheers, Dave


--
David Y. Wei and Suzanne L. Clouthier

[admin]

You appear to have missed the main Atlin entry on page 37, which covers most of the points you raise. There are also 21 other mentions of Atlin in the EBC which you can call up using the search function in the electronic version. According to the Lakes entry on page 401, Williston Lake is the largest freshwater lake in BC at 1,773 sq km and Babine is the largest natural lake located entirely in BC at 495 sq km. Atlin Lake, at 735.5 sq km, is the largest natural Lake of which a portion is in BC.

If you spend much time around Prince George you will notice residents frequently refer to it as "The North" and "Northern BC" although technically it is central BC. You will find both views represented in the EBC.