The
Okanagan ( ), also known as the
Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the
Okanagan Country, is a
region located in the
Canadian province of
British Columbia defined by the basin of
Okanagan Lake and the
Canadian portion of the
Okanagan River. It is part of the
Okanagan Country, extending into the
United States as Okanogan Country. As of 2011, the region's population is approximately 341,818. The primary city is
Kelowna. The region is known for its dry, sunny climate, dry landscapes and lakeshore communities and particular lifestyle. The economy is retirement and commercial-recreation based, with outdoor activities such as boating and watersports, snow skiing and hiking. Agriculture has been focused primarily on fruit orchards, with a recent shift in focus to
vineyards and wine. The region stretches northwards via the Spallumcheen Valley to connect to
Sicamous in the
Shuswap Country, and reaches south of the
Canada–United States border, where it continues as
Okanogan County. The Okanagan as a region is sometimes described as including the
Boundary,
Similkameen and Shuswap regions, though this is because of proximity and historic and commercial ties with those areas.