The Barrier

About this book

The Barrier is a lava dam retaining the Garibaldi Lake system in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is about 80 kilometres north of Vancouver in Garibaldi Provincial Park of New Westminster Land District. The Barrier lies in the Cheakamus River watershed of the southern Coast Mountains where snow-capped mountains, diverse vegetation and rich geological history exists. Garibaldi Lake is the largest lake impounded by The Barrier; it has a length of 5.23 km (3.25 mi) and a width of 2.4 km (1.5 mi). The much smaller Lesser Garibaldi and Barrier lakes are also impounded by The Barrier, but lie within depressions on the surface of the lava dam rather than behind it. All three lakes are drained by Rubble Creek, a tributary of the Cheakamus River flowing 4.5 km (2.8 mi) northwest from the foot of The Barrier.