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Mission Geography

The Fraser River, Mission Chamber of Commerce photo
The Fraser River, Mission Chamber of Commerce photo
Mission is situated about 70km/44mi east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley. To get to Mission from downtown Vancouver, it's a one-hour drive on the Lougheed Highway (Highway 7). Occupying an area of 253 sq km/98 sq mi, this forestry- and agriculture-oriented community sits on a hillside on the north side of the Fraser River. Nearby communities include Maple Ridge to the west and Abbotsford to the south. The Mission Bridge over the Fraser River connects Mission and Abbotsford via the Abbotsford-Mission Highway (Highway 11).

Landscape

Mission is dominated by the sturgeon-laden waters of the Fraser River, British Columbia's longest river at 1,375km/854mi. The district municipality also offers a pleasant combination of riverside farmland, coastal mountains and abundant fir, cedar, and hemlock trees. Tree farming is a major industry. The topography is broken up by hillsides and gullies. In season, local fields burgeon with crops of flowers, blueberries, and corn. In total, Mission has 10,520ha/26,000ac of municipal forest, and hiking and biking trails abound.

Check out Mission-area parks like Cascade Falls Regional Park and Rolley Lake Provincial Park. Major lakes in the area include Hayward Lake, Alouette Lake and Stave Lake, the site of the Powerhouse at Stave Falls, a National Historic Site. On a clear day, there are excellent views of Mount Cheam in the eastern Fraser Valley, Dog Mountain on the North Shore, and Mount Baker in the United States.

Climate and Weather

Mission, like Vancouver, lies in a coastal temperate rainforest zone, and enjoys a mild climate. The average temperature in July is 23°C/73°F, and the average temperature in January is -4°C/25°F. Each year, Mission gets an average of 163cm/16in of precipitation and close to 2,000 hours of sunshine.

Stop by the Mission Visitor Centre to learn more about the area's geography.