Ilgachuz Range

Ilgachuz Range
Satellite image of the Ilgachuz Range
Highest point
PeakFar Mountain
Elevation2,410 m (7,910 ft)
Coordinates52°47′12.1″N 125°19′23.9″W / 52.786694°N 125.323306°W / 52.786694; -125.323306
Geography
Map
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictRange 3 Coast Land District
Range coordinates52°46′N 125°18′W / 52.767°N 125.300°W / 52.767; -125.300
Parent rangeChilcotin Plateau
Borders onRainbow and Itcha Range
Geology
Formed byShield volcano
OrogenyAnahim hotspot volcanism
Rock age6.1 to 4.0 million years

The Ilgachuz Range is a name given to an extinct shield volcano in British Columbia, Canada. It is not a mountain range in the normal sense, because it was formed as a single volcano that has been eroded for the past 5 million years. It lies on the Chilcotin Plateau, located some 350 kilometres (220 mi) north-northwest of Vancouver and 30 km north of Anahim Lake. The highest peak of the range is Far Mountain. The range supports a unique grassland ecosystem. This type of grassland has not been seen anywhere else in central and southern British Columbia. The climate is cool and dry; typical of higher elevations of the Interior Plateau.

The 280 kilometres (174 mi) long West Road River rises in the Ilgachuz Range and flows east to its confluence with the Fraser River between Prince George and Quesnel. It drains an area of approximately 12,000 km2 and loses over 900 m elevation before joining the Fraser.