3
PHYSICAL FEATURES

Terrace area is within the eastern confines of the Coast range. It is
characterized by high mountain peaks and deeply incised valleys. The
stream gradients are moderate, although the mountain peaks rise to heights
of 7,500 feet. Below the 4,000-foot contour the mountain slopes are steep,
between 4,000 and 5,200 feet they are smooth and rounded and gently
sloping, and above 5,200 feet they are steep with knife-edge ridges and
serrated peaks. Small glaciers persist the year around on the north sides
of the peaks. Below an elevation of 4,000 feet the valleys support a heavy
growth of forest trees, namely, hemlock, Sitka spruce, balsam, red cedar,
and cottonwood.

The area is drained by Skeena river, a wide, swift stream that flows in
a southwest direction from Terrace. A few miles northeast of Terrace the
course of the river valley is more northerly and the mountains rise
precipitously on both sides. East of Terrace the tributary streams are
deeply incised and flow in a northwest or southeast direction to join the
Skeena. Zymoetz river, the largest of these tributary streams, flows in
a northwest direction and joins the Skeena 5 miles above Terrace. Lakelse
river, Kleanza, Chimdemash, St. Croix, and Legate creeks also flow north-
westerly into Skeena river. Hardscrabble, Nicholson, Lowrie, and Phillips
creeks are the more important streams flowing southeasterly into the
Skeena. Farther north, Fiddler, Lorne, and Porcupine creeks flow about
due east to the Skeena.

A wide, deep valley which runs from north to south across the western
part of the area intersects Skeena River valley at Terrace. It is known as
the Kitsumgallum-Lakelse valley, being named after the two large lakes
that lie within it, about 23 miles apart. Kitsumgallum lake, about 16 miles
north of Terrace, is 7 miles long and 1 mile wide and occupies almost the
full width of the valley; it is reported to be 450 feet deep in places. A
large number of small creeks such as Clear, Douglas, Hall, Maroon, Goat,
and Nelson drain into the lake, and at the northwest end two larger
streams, Beaver river from the west and Cedar river from the north, enter
the lake. The latter stream is confined to the northern continuation of
Kitsumgallum-Lakelse valley. Kitsumgallum river drains the lake from
the south end and follows the valley south, joining the Skeena about a
mile west of Terrace. Lakelse lake, situated about 7 miles south of Terrace,
is 5 miles long and a mile wide. It is comparatively shallow and the water
is not clouded with silt as is that of Kitsumgallum lake. Williams creek,
a clear stream, enters the lake at the north end, and the Lakelse River
outlet is at the southwest end. The entire valley bottom from Lakelse lake
north to Kitsumgallum Jake and beyond is covered by a thick deposit of
river gravel and sand, and bedrock is rarely seen. Near Terrace and in
many other parts of the valley, flood-plain deposits have formed a very
fertile soil well adapted to fruit growing and mixed farming. Weather
conditions are also ideal as the winter temperatures seldom fall below zero
and the annual rainfall averages about 40 inches a year.