Okanagan Falls...

Okanagan Falls, situated in the South Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, is located at the south end of beautiful Skaha Lake in the southern quarter of the picturesque Okanagan Valley. The valley is actually a northern extension of the Columbia Basin and forms the only temperate desert area in Canada. Okanagan Falls is approximately 20 minutes drive south of Penticton and 20 minutes north of Oliver.

The first thing anyone asks when visiting Okanagan Falls is "Where are the waterfalls?" It depends on who you talk to as to what actually happened to the Falls; for there are two different stories: Indian legend has it that the Falls were once quite large. "Sweeping over great rocks with a voice of thunder and a spray as white as wild-cherry blossoms." The Coyote, an important character in Okanagan Indian tales, tore the falls down one day in a fit of anger "until the great waterfall was hardly more than a rapid, as it has remained to this day."

The non-legend story is not quite as colourful: In the early 1950's, a series of three dams were constructed, all ineffectively, as proven by the floods that ensued. In 1952, the present flood gates were installed, virtually eliminating what was left of the beautiful twin falls.

The Okanagan Valley is renowned as one of the most pleasant areas to live in Canada. The gentle climate of the valley, excellent transportation and availability of world class recreational opportunities make it a fabulous area in which to live.