'''British Columbia''' is the western most province in [[Canada]]. The capital is [[Victoria]], its population in 1991 was 3,282,061 accounting for 12% of the national population. The total area of '''British Columbia''' is 947,800 km<sub>2</sub> with 25,730 km of coast line. It was explored by the Spanish in 1774, Captain Cook explored in 1778, and Captain Vancouver was sent to survey the coast by the [[Royal Navy]] in 1792. '''British Columbia''' joined confederation in 1871.<ref>[Reader's Digest Atlas of Canada, 1995 ] </ref> | '''British Columbia''' is the western most province in [[Canada]]. The capital is [[Victoria]], its population in 1991 was 3,282,061 accounting for 12% of the national population. The total area of '''British Columbia''' is 947,800 km<sub>2</sub> with 25,730 km of coast line. It was explored by the Spanish in 1774, Captain Cook explored in 1778, and Captain Vancouver was sent to survey the coast by the [[Royal Navy]] in 1792. '''British Columbia''' joined confederation in 1871.<ref>[Reader's Digest Atlas of Canada, 1995 ] </ref> |