Okanagan Live Cam

The British Lion and Crown are symbols of the British Empire. The large "O" is for Osoyoos. The Elk and Rocky Mountain Sheep are a symbol of British Columbia. The Sun emphasizes the Sunny Okanagan, and the mountains are the Chapaka range. Also shown within the big "O" are the orchards and Osoyoos lake. Clustered around the bottom of the crest are some of the fruits grown in the valley, including Grapes, Cherries, Apples and Peaches. The Dogwood blossoms are British Columbia's flower.

Osoyoos is paradise to bird watchers. Unusual and captivating wildlife can be viewed at the marshes at the head of Lake Osoyoos (turn right on Road 22 on Hwy. 97 North). You'll be amazed to see Canada's smallest hummingbird, bats, canyon wrens, sage thrashers, and brewer's sparrows. And if you're lucky, the rare chukar partridge may be seen (the cry "chuk chuk" may be heard but the bird is seldom seem, yet never forgotten).

Located on the north end of Osoyoos Lake, Haynes' Lease Ecological Reserve offers visitors a glimpse of a land untouched. Tours of Haynes Lease are carried out on a regular basis by the Park Naturalist at Haynes Point Provincial Park.

Come work up a sweat at Desert Park Recreation Complex. The facility offers a universal gym, free weights, exercise bikes, step machine, aerobics, squash, indoor soccer, floor hockey and basketball.

Osoyoos Lake reflects the splendour of the Okanagan mountain range. In fact, the lake is the warmest fresh water lake in Canada. The lake supports approximately 30 species of fish (varieties include large Mouth Bass, Trout, Kokanee, Perch and White fish) and is sanctuary to the Canada goose, the bald-headed eagle and the great horned owl.

For the casual outdoor enthusiast, Osoyoos has many walkways along the beach, through the provincial park, beside orchards on side streets or just a pleasant stroll downtown. Recently the old Kettle Valley Railroad line has been transformed into a hike and bike trail, going from just north up to Oliver.

Sun Flight Para-Sailing offers para-sail rides, water-ski lessons, water-ski charters, banana rides and equipment rentals. Come down to the foot of Main St. at Gyro beach.

Bike and motor scooters are available for rent and many visitors spend the entire day riding along the lake. With any outdoor activity you must first decide on the view and what a great selection to choose from: sunny beaches, fruit trees, by a lake or cool pine trees and raging rivers.

Indian Grove Riding Stables offers a new one day pack trip adventure, which includes a trip to the waterfalls, fishing and a steak dinner. Don't forget to bring your bathing suits! Leaves at 9:30am, returns 7:30pm. Also available are morning, afternoon and day rides.

Escape the summer heat by cooling off at Wild Rapids Water Slide. This facility boasts five daring slides. Other amenities include an arcade, concessions, and gift shop. There is grassy and shaded areas for your family to relax in.

All ages welcome! Knowledge of Yoga is not necessary. This western style Yoga is offered at Sun Bowl Arena from September to June. And in the summer it is held outdoors. Yoga sessions are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00am to 9:00am. The cost is one dollar per week. Loose clothing and a mat is recommended.

Osoyoos is only 5 minutes away from the Canada/US Border, along with 2 major airports only 1 and 2 hours away respectively.

Historically speaking we probably started with an earthquake that opened up the whole Valley to the Pacific with volcanic action as wee, millions of years ago. About 130 million years ago this Valley was an inland sea, until what is known as the "Pleistocene Ice Age" commenced between 1.6 and 1.8 million years ago, finally melting between 10-11,000 years ago. Again this period possibly started by a comet/asteroid striking the earth.Our area is reported to have been under 7000 feet of ice. Osoyoos Lake occupies a depression formed by early melting caused by an "ice lobe".

Because of the sandstone bed we have what are known as “haystack rocks” and “hoodoos” (very visible on the West side of Highway 97 North of Penticton). When the water got plugged (called meltwater) it directed itself into streams. As it retreated it formed these meltwater channels which can still be seen on the East side of the Lake, along with “Kame Terraces” where the sediment levelled out (these are also known as “benches”). The “big melt” caused masses of water, sometimes 300 feet deep, travelling at 70 mph for over 1000 miles, which caused the strange rock formations in Washington State down to the Pacific Ocean.

Also left from the glacier are what are known as “Kettles”-these can be seen down Highway 97 locally, on the East and West side of the Highway, such as opposite “Reflections B & B”. Several of these will almost dry up in early summer until around July 15th when the huge Aquifer on the West side refills them (we have 2 on the East side, all of them are highly vulnerable and are classified as having major amounts of nitrates in them). Kilpoola Lake also a result of the glacier. Core samples there show about 1/4 inch of ash from the Mazama Volcano in Oregon (now known as Crater lake), which occurred 7000 years ago.

The first map of the area was drawn by Archibald McDonald and in 1933 a sketch by Sam Black included in a map by Lt. Col Hawkins of the Royal Engineers from Britain, showing “Engineers Road, formerly Dewdney Trail”. Some of these old maps show French names such as “Lac Chien” now “Dog Lake".

The first white man to come here was David Stuart an explorer in 1811 with the Pacific Fur Co. although there are indications that nomads were here in the 1500’s and that the Conquistadors were here searching for Eldorado, they got as far as Kelowna and they and most of their horses died during a wicked winter. Bill Barlee our former MLA and historian has done research on this.

In 1855 Hiram F. Smith known as “Okanagan Smith", a former mail carrier from between Fort Hope and Fort Okanogan for the Hudson Bay Co. settled on the Eastern Shores of the Lake believing he was in Canada but on April 27th 1861 the American Boundary Commission realigned this line and an error was found which put him in the USA. This of course was the 49th parallel. He was the first to bring apples to the area (scions brought from Hope in 1857), was known as a “character”. In fall of 1860 Governor James Douglas visited him on his way to the Hudson Bay post in Keremeos. General Sherman and others visited.