Burnaby Mountain

Burnaby Mountain
A view from Burnaby Mountain's Centennial Park
Highest point
Elevation370 m (1,210 ft)
Prominence354 m (1,161 ft)
Coordinates49°16′45″N 122°54′31″W / 49.27917°N 122.90861°W / 49.27917; -122.90861
Geography
Map
LocationBurnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Topo mapNTS 92G7 Port Coquitlam

Burnaby Mountain, elev. 370 m (1,214 ft), is a low, forested mountain in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, overlooking the upper arms of Burrard Inlet. It is the location of Simon Fraser University Burnaby Campus,[1] the Discovery Park research community, and the System Control Tower of BC Hydro and a residential neighbourhood with retail shops development called UniverCity. In November 1995, the Province of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University reached an agreement to transfer 330 hectares of university land to the City of Burnaby for inclusion into Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area.[2]

Wildlife

In spite of residential development on its western slope and continuing deforestation due to condominium construction around SFU, the mountain still has wildlife remaining such as deer, raccoons, coyotes customarily roaming local streets. A few black bears, sometimes mothers with cubs, pay occasional visits to the forest trails—and even the backyards of Westridge residents.[3] Common wild birds include several types of woodpeckers, northern flickers, Steller's jays, great blue herons, barred owls, and great horned owls. Sightings of bald eagles over the mountain's eastern forest are not uncommon.

Climate

Climate data for Burnaby Mountain (Simon Fraser University) (Elevation: 365.8m) 1981−2010
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7) 		17.1
(62.8) 		19.4
(66.9) 		23.7
(74.7) 		28.9
(84.0) 		29.6
(85.3) 		34.0
(93.2) 		33.9
(93.0) 		31.6
(88.9) 		24.5
(76.1) 		16.3
(61.3) 		12.1
(53.8) 		33.5
(92.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4) 		6.8
(44.2) 		9.3
(48.7) 		12.4
(54.3) 		15.6
(60.1) 		18.2
(64.8) 		21.2
(70.2) 		21.2
(70.2) 		18.0
(64.4) 		12.0
(53.6) 		7.5
(45.5) 		5.1
(41.2) 		12.7
(54.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.6
(38.5) 		4.3
(39.7) 		6.2
(43.2) 		8.7
(47.7) 		11.8
(53.2) 		14.4
(57.9) 		17.0
(62.6) 		17.2
(63.0) 		14.6
(58.3) 		9.5
(49.1) 		5.3
(41.5) 		2.9
(37.2) 		9.6
(49.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.4
(34.5) 		1.7
(35.1) 		3.1
(37.6) 		4.9
(40.8) 		7.9
(46.2) 		10.5
(50.9) 		12.7
(54.9) 		13.2
(55.8) 		11.1
(52.0) 		7.0
(44.6) 		3.0
(37.4) 		0.8
(33.4) 		6.5
(43.7)
Record low °C (°F) −13.9
(7.0) 		−14.0
(6.8) 		−8.0
(17.6) 		−3.3
(26.1) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		3.9
(39.0) 		5.0
(41.0) 		3.3
(37.9) 		2.0
(35.6) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		−14.0
(6.8) 		−19.4
(−2.9) 		−19.4
(−2.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 280.9
(11.06) 		178.4
(7.02) 		182.1
(7.17) 		154.4
(6.08) 		120.0
(4.72) 		101.4
(3.99) 		64.7
(2.55) 		64.5
(2.54) 		92.2
(3.63) 		210.1
(8.27) 		311.6
(12.27) 		249.8
(9.83) 		2,009.9
(79.13)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 256.5
(10.10) 		163.2
(6.43) 		171.2
(6.74) 		152.7
(6.01) 		119.9
(4.72) 		101.4
(3.99) 		64.7
(2.55) 		64.5
(2.54) 		92.2
(3.63) 		209.8
(8.26) 		303.6
(11.95) 		220.8
(8.69) 		1,920.7
(75.62)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 24.3
(9.6) 		15.1
(5.9) 		10.9
(4.3) 		1.7
(0.7) 		0.1
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.1) 		8.0
(3.1) 		29.0
(11.4) 		89.3
(35.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 20.5 16.2 18.9 16.1 14.9 13.5 7.4 6.8 10.3 17.1 21.6 19.8 183.1
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 18.1 14.7 18.3 16 14.9 13.5 7.4 6.8 10.3 17 21 17.3 175.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 4 2.5 2 0.54 0.04 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.09 1.8 4.5 15.47
Source: Environment Canada (normals, 1981−2010)[4]

Attractions

The western slope of Burnaby Mountain as seen from Burnaby North Secondary School

Burnaby Mountain has a viewpoint facing west at Centennial Park. The yearly Celebration of Light fireworks festival on English Bay west of downtown Vancouver can be seen from the park and attracts an audience on the parks' westward-facing lawns.

The mountain is known for its mountain biking trails and obstacles. There are easy trails like Sidebandit, challenging rides (Mel's) and two hard, steep runs (Nicoles, Gearjammer).

Due to its relatively high elevation, snow will often fall on the higher levels of Burnaby Mountain while rain falls in the surrounding cities. Tobogganing is a popular pastime at Centennial Park on winter days with snow.

The park is also home to a collection of Ainu totem pole-like carvings which commemorate the goodwill between Burnaby and its sister city, Kushiro, Japan,[2] and a fairly large formal rose garden[5]

References

  1. ^ http://www.sfu.ca/campuses/burnaby.htmlvan [dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b City of Burnaby Website, Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, and there is Burnaby Mountain in the east side closer to Lougheed Mall. The area should not be confused with the golf course which is located near the mountain. Archived February 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Burnaby Now Archived November 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "BURNABY SIMON FRASER U]". Canadian Climate Normals 1981−2010. 2013-09-25. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  5. ^ "Tourism Burnaby - Detail". Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-11-20. Tourism Burnaby