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General location info: The Okanagan (pronounced /oʊkəˈnɑːɡən/), also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2001, the region's population is approximately 297,601. The primary city is Kelowna. The name derives from an Okanagan language word S-Ookanhkchinx meaning "Transport toward the head or top end". The region is known for its dry, sunny climate, arid landscapes and lakeshore communities and particular lifestyle. The economy is retirement and commercial-recreation based, with outdoor activities such as boating and watersports, snow skiing and hiking. Agriculture has been focused primarily on fruit orchards, with a recent shift in focus to vineyards and wine. Geography As defined for census purposes by StatsCan, the region has a total area of 20,829 km² (8,042 mi²) which is roughly two-thirds the size of Belgium. Geographic features include: * Monashee Mountains * Okanagan Highland * Thompson Plateau * Okanagan Lake * Skaha Lake * Kalamalka Lake * Swan Lake * Wood Lake * Shuswap River * Mahoney Lake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okanagan_Valley