The Montane Cordillera ecozone sits between the Pacific Maritime, Boreal Plains and Boreal Cordillera ecozones, in the south and central interior of British Columbia and the Alberta Foothills. With its extremely diverse topography and climate, the Montane Cordillera is the most complex of Canada’s ecozones. Several mountain ranges run north to south, and there are a number of interior plains, Canada’s only true desert, more than 11 000 lakes and seven major river systems, including the headwaters of the Fraser and Columbia rivers.
Vegetation varies widely, depending on elevation and exposure. The ecozone is 65.5% forested. The Montane Cordillera is a fire-dominated ecosystem. However, fire suppression has made it increasingly prone to catastrophic wildfire and insect infestation.