Osoyoos, British Columbia
| Town of Osoyoos | |||
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  British Columbia |
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| Regional District | |||
| Incorporated | 1946 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | |||
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Osoyoos Town Council | ||
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| - City | km² ( sq mi) | ||
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| Time zone | |||
| - Summer (DST) | Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7) | ||
| Postal code span | V0H | ||
| Area code(s) | +1-250 | ||
| Website: Osoyoos.ca | |||
Osoyoos (IPA: /ɒˈsɔɪjuːs/) (Pronounced “O-soy-use”) is a small town in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley on British Columbia's southern border with Washington state. It is in a region that is arguably the only hot desert in Canada (the Arctic is largely a desert by precipitation standards). Its terrain fits this image, with sandy hills, tumbleweeds, rattlesnakes, and a hot-summer, arid climate. Its population swells in the summertime due to vacationers and retirees. Osoyoos Lake may be Canada's warmest lake, with average summer water temperatures of 24°C (75°F). Though it is very desert-like, irrigation enhances its agriculture.
During the summer months, the Okanagan Valley is among the hottest areas in Canada, and Osoyoos often reaches the highest daytime temperature of any location in Canada. Temperatures regularly exceed 38°C (100°F) in the summers, although the humidity is low and nights are generally pleasant. Winters are generally dry and cold, but are usually mild compared to adjacent regions.
Osoyoos is situated on the east-west Crowsnest Highway with a significant ascent out of the Okanagan Valley in either direction. The Crowsnest headed east begins with an 18km switchback through rugged hills with a 685m rise. On highway 97 south there is a 24 hour border crossing between Canada and the United States between Osoyoos and Oroville, Washington.
The name Osoyoos means "narrowing of the waters" in the local Okanagan language (Syilx'tsn).
Osoyoos is the hometown of the NHL's
Climate
- Hottest Daily Temperature: 42.8°C (110°F) on July 27, 1998
- Hottest Mean Maximum Temperature: 34.1°C (93°F) in July, 1994
- Warmest Month: 25.4°C (78°F) in July, 1998
- Days above 30°C (86°F) in 1994: 68
- Days above 20°C (68°F) in 1994: 174
The climate is desert-like Semi-arid with summers that are generally hot and very dry. The result is one of the longest growing seasons in Canada. Normally, daily temperatures in July and August average near 30°C (86°F), with overnight lows of around 14°C (57°F). September and October are usually warm and pleasant. Winters are short but can be somewhat cold with average lows about -5°C (24°F) in January. Spring arrives early.
Osoyoos is generally considered the only hot desert in Canada. Many places in the arctic are many times drier than Osoyoos, and even some of the American deserts, but lack the summer heat to sustain high evaporation rates. A "hot" desert is a highly subjective term that Osoyoos uses to help boost tourism. It has become more of a marketing ploy than a scientific reality. This is evident where another small area in British Columbia around Spences Bridge is both hotter during the summer and drier throughout the year than Osoyoos, but is not considered a "true" hot desert. This may be because of the lack of Antelope Brush in the Spences Bridge area, as Antelope Brush (found in Osoyoos) is a true desert plant. The Nk'mip Desert, part of the Osoyoos Arid Biotic Zone, is found along the eastern shores of Osoyoos Lake.
Sister cities
Osoyoos has one city in the sister cities program.
External links
- Town of Osoyoos
- Osoyoos Times. Local News, Classifieds, Community Calendar
- Tourism & Business Info Centre
- Nk'mip Desert and Heritage Centre
- Osoyoos Desert Society
- Destination Osoyoos
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| Regional districts | Alberni-Clayoquot ·
Bulkley-Nechako ·
Capital ·
Cariboo ·
Central Coast · Central Kootenay · Central Okanagan · Columbia-Shuswap ·
Comox-Strathcona · Cowichan Valley ·
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| Principal urban centres | Abbotsford · |
| Large suburban communities | |
| Other significant cities | Campbell River · |
| See also | List of communities |
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