Osoyoos, British Columbia

Osoyoos is nestled at the southern end of British Columbia's Okanagan valley. Situated on the shore of Canada's warmest lake and surrounded by mountains, it is a five minute drive north of the United States border, an easy five hour drive from Seattle, Washington, and four and a half hours east of Vancouver, B.C.

This small, friendly town is located on the northern tip of the Sonoran desert which extends north from Mexico. It enjoys sunny, dry winters with January highs of 0.1 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and an average annual snowfall of 5.4 cm (2.1 in). The average high temperature in July is 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees F) and there is an average of 2019 hours of annual sunshine.

Osoyoos also lies on a migration corridor for many birds, animals and insects. Its unique ecosystem is home to many threatened or endangered plants, animals and birds, including the tiger salamander and the burrowing owl. The migrating monarch butterfly feeds on the milkweed which grows in Haynes Point Provincial Park, a small campsite which sits on a spit jutting out into the lake, and it is considered one of the best bird watching areas in Canada.

Osoyoos is home to fruit orchards, vineyards and a growing number of wineries, many of which offer daily tastings. Grape cultivation was started by the Osoyoos First Nations, and their winery, Nk'Mip Cellars, is North America's first aboriginal winery

Summer time activities on and around the lake include swiming, boating, kayaking, water skiing, as well as walking or biking along the lake shore. Town attractions include an art gallery, museum, model railway, crazy golf, and a Dutch windmill. The Osoyoos Desert Centre and the Nk'mip Desert Cultural Centre both offer opportunities to interact with the unique desert ecosystem.

It is also a great golf destination. There are ten courses in the area and because of the mild climate the golfing season extends from March to November.

There are also two quite unique attractions in the area. The world-class Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory is located in a natural dish between the hills, outside the nearby town of Okanagan Falls, and is open daily for free self-guided tours.

Another interesting and rather odd sight visible from the highway just outside of Osoyoos is Spotted Lake. This is a shallow lakewith an unusually high concentration of minerals. As the lake evaporates in the summer, concentrated mineral crystals form colored spots on the surface of the water.

To learn more about this unique and friendly Canadian destination please visit:

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