Negotiating the Pacific border between Canada and the United States had been difficult. Canada feared the United States may try to bridge the land gap between the territories of Washington and Alaska at Canada’s expense. To offset this threat, British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation as a province in July, 1871.
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Picea sitchensis - The Sitka spruce is one of forty species in the Pinaceae family, the conifer trees. Growing to heights of 100 meters, it is the tallest spruce tree. The shallow root system of the Sitka make it vulnerable to toppling over in high winds and the thin bark offers little protection when forest fires ravage the landscape. These fires can destroy thousands of acres, but they also help to enrich the soil for the seeds of the next generation. The Sitka spruce is found along the rain corridor and coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest.
