Canada 2016 - Nakusp, British Columbia

The Village of Nakusp is located on the shores of Upper Arrow Lake, a portion of the Columbia River, in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, with 1,574 inhabitants, known primarily for its nearby hot springs - a popular destination for tourists, as well as its picturesque mountain lakeside setting. The area around Nakusp was occupied by aboriginal peoples from the Secwepemc, Sinixt and Ktunaxa peoples. In 1811, the first reported European explorer on the Arrow Lakes was Finan McDonald, an associate of David Thompson. The construction of the Keenleyside Dam north of Castlegar in 1968 and the resulting rise of the lake level caused the rearrangement of the village and its waterfront. Mining was historically the most important industry in the area, but it was eclipsed by forestry which is today the major economic base of the village.