Tatla Lake, British Columbia

Infobox Settlement
name =Tatla Lake
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settlement_type =Unincorporated community
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pushpin_map_caption =Location with the Cariboo Regional District of British Columbia
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = flag|British Columbia
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Chilcotin
subdivision_type3 = Regional district
subdivision_name3 =Cariboo
subdivision_type4 = Between
subdivision_name4 =Williams Lake and Bella Coola
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elevation_m = 922
elevation_ft =3025
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utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PST
utc_offset_DST = PDT
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latd=51 |latm=54 |lats=16 |latNS=N
longd=124 |longm=36 |longs=04 |longEW=W
postal_code_type = Postal Code
postal_code = V0L 1V0
area_code = 250
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Tatla Lake is a small unincorporated community in the West Chilcotin area of British Columbia, Canada. Situated 220 km west of Williams Lake along Highway 20 (Chilcotin Highway), Tatla Lake's 123 people live approximately half-way between the two ends of the highway; Williams Lake to the East and the coastal community of Bella Coola to the West [ [Encyclopedia of British Columbia] ] . The community is the service centre for three major mountain valleys of West Branch, Chilko and Tatlayoko. These valleys extend southward via secondary roads to the South. [ [http://www.landwithoutlimits.com/Places_to_Visit/Chilcotin/Tatla_Lake Official Website of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism] ]

History

The first people to live in Tatla Lake were the Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin) First Nations people. Ranching began in 1890 with the advent of early pioneers. Robert Graham arrived in the country in 1901 and purchased the Tatla Lake place from Benny Franklin in 1902. The Grahams built a fine new house as well as a new store in 1930. The house is now the Graham Inn, long known for serving excellent meals to hungry travelers on the highway. A post office was established on the Graham Ranch in 1914 with Mrs. Graham as postmistress for mail that only came once a month at first. The Graham's son William, was the first baby born in the new log hospital at Alexis Creek in 1915. Over the years a school, community hall, and nursing station were added [ [Encyclopedia of British Columbia] ] .

Geography

Tatla Lake is situated on the western edge of the Chilcotin Plateau, and some of the largest mountains in British Columbia are found to the West including Mount Waddington - the tallest mountain within British Columbia borders. The Coast Mountains block most of the moisture traveling off the Pacific Ocean leaving the entire Chilcotin region in a rain shadow. Tatla Lake is the westernmost location more many semi-arid plants like Prickly Pear Cactus and Rabbit Brush.

Climate

The rain shadow effect means Tatla Lake is one of the driest places in British Columbia receiving about the same precipitation per year as Penticton. The dry air combined with relatively high elevation and clear skies mean the daily temperature extremes are higher than anywhere else in Canada. In September the temperature can be over 32°C (90°F) during the day and below freezing at night. On average the temperature fluctuates by about 17 °C (31°F).

During the winter the Tatla lake valley is much colder than the surrounding plateau and valleys as the cold air sinks creating strong temperature inversions. The nearby weather station at Puntzi recorded a low of -52.8°C (-63°F) on December 29th, 1968. During the winters chinook winds blow up the coastal valleys, but often times pass over Tatla Lake leaving the community in a deep freeze. This occurs because the Tatla Lake drainage system flows east, while the neighboring valleys flow west through the Coast Mountains.Source: [http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca Environment Canada, "Canadian Climate Normals or Averages 1971-2000"]

References

* [Encyclopedia of British Columbia]
* [http://www.landwithoutlimits.com/Places_to_Visit/Chilcotin/Tatla_Lake "Official Website of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism"]