- Naramata, British Columbia
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Naramata — Community — A wine tasting in Naramata wine country
NaramataCoordinates: 49°35′N 119°35′W / 49.583°N 119.583°WCoordinates: 49°35′N 119°35′W / 49.583°N 119.583°W Country Canada Province British Columbia Regional District Okanagan–Similkameen Naramata is a community of approximately 2000 people within the Regional District of Okanagan–Similkameen in British Columbia, Canada. Naramata is situated in the Okanagan Valley on the southeast shore of Okanagan Lake, to the north of Penticton from which is the only road access.
Contents
History
Originally, Naramata was called "East Summerland". However, John Moore Robinson, the founder of the village, thought "Brighton Beach" was an appropriate name for the area in honor of his family's British beginnings. Then, one night in 1907, a seance was held in the home of J.S. Gillespie, the most prominent medium of the American Spiritualistic Church. During a spiritualistic trance, it is said that Mrs. Gillespie was entered by the spirit of a great Sioux Indian Chief named Big Moose. The chief spoke dearly of his lovely wife named "Nar-ra-mat-tah" and described her as the "Smile of Manitou". Consequently, Mr. Robinson was so struck by "the resurrection of forgotten memories" that he decided that the village should be named "Naramata" instead. Certainly, "it is a favored existence indeed for those who live in a place that is so honored as to be named from the 'other world'."
Founded in 1907 by John Moore Robinson as a prime agricultural area, Naramata was also known in its early years as a cultural centre. People from across the Okanagan would arrive by boat for concerts, plays, operas and regattas. Paddlewheelers regularly stopped at the local wharf carrying freight and passengers up and down Okanagan Lake. In 1914, Naramata received a new link with the rest of Canada when the Kettle Valley Railway was completed on the hillside above the village. Due to the intense volume of rock work it gained the reputation as one of the most difficult stretches of KVR construction. Today, remnants of the KVR make for great exploration, such as the train tunnels, rock ovens, and the railway right-of-way which clings to the hillside high above Okanagan Lake and is now part of the Trans-Canada Trail.
There are many fruit orchards in Naramata, plum, pear, cherry, apricot and apple. Starting in the mid-nineties, there has been an acceleration in the growth of the wine industry in the area now known as the "Naramata Bench". The result has been a drastic decline in the relative economic importance of fruit growing, so much so that the Naramata fruit-packing facility (part of the Okanagan Tree Fruit Co-operative) has been closed (2009), and the remaining growers must ship their fruit to Penticton.
Economy
Agriculture and tourism form the economic base of the village of Naramata. The agricultural sector once mostly consisting of orchards is rapidly being supplanted by vineyards and wineries that are collectively referred to as the "Naramata Bench". Tourism is served by many motels, beach side resorts and a variety of bed and breakfast operations that cater to summertime visitors.
Climate
Climate data for Naramata Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1)16.5
(61.7)22
(72)29.5
(85.1)32.5
(90.5)36
(97)38.5
(101.3)37.5
(99.5)34.5
(94.1)25
(77)21
(70)11.5
(52.7)38.5
(101.3)Average high °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)4.3
(39.7)10.2
(50.4)15.4
(59.7)20.1
(68.2)23.7
(74.7)27
(81)27.1
(80.8)21.7
(71.1)13.6
(56.5)6.6
(43.9)1.5
(34.7)14.4 Daily mean °C (°F) −1.2
(29.8)1
(34)5.5
(41.9)9.8
(49.6)14
(57)17.6
(63.7)20.4
(68.7)20.4
(68.7)15.7
(60.3)9.3
(48.7)3.8
(38.8)−0.7
(30.7)9.6 Average low °C (°F) −3.6
(25.5)−2.3
(27.9)0.8
(33.4)4.2
(39.6)7.9
(46.2)11.3
(52.3)13.6
(56.5)13.7
(56.7)9.7
(49.5)4.9
(40.8)0.9
(33.6)−2.9
(26.8)4.8 Record low °C (°F) −21
(−6)−21
(−6)−13
(9)−6.1
(21.0)−0.6
(30.9)3
(37)5.6
(42.1)6
(43)−1.1
(30.0)−10
(14)−14.5
(5.9)−18.5
(−1.3)−21
(−6)Precipitation mm (inches) 27.1
(1.067)20.4
(0.803)17.5
(0.689)26.3
(1.035)34.2
(1.346)43.3
(1.705)30.2
(1.189)25.1
(0.988)22
(0.87)22
(0.87)30.2
(1.189)31.7
(1.248)330
(12.99)Source: Environment Canada[1] See also
References
- ^ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 26 March 2010
External links
Categories:- Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia
- Populated places in the South Okanagan
- Designated places in British Columbia
- British Columbia Interior geography stubs
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