With permafrost to the north, deserts to the south, and an ever-changing geography from coast to coast, Canada is home to an amazing array of forests, each with its own distinct flora and fauna.
The Coast Forest spans the entire coast of British Columbia to Alaska. A total of 16.5 million hectares, it extends 150 km inland to the lower seaward slopes of the Coast Mountains and includes Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and BC's multitude of coastal islands.
Mountains, steep valleys, coastal lowlands, inlets and fjords mingle in never-ending combinations. Together, they shape the air as it rushes in from the sea, and in turn, the ocean wind shapes the land and everything that lives on it. The Shore Pine's crooked trunk and twisted branches are testament to the wind's sculpting influence. In fact, the tree's Latin name, Pinus contorta, means “tangled pine.”
Specifications
No.143360
Mintage 8500
Composition 99.99% pure silver
Finish proof
Weight (g) 31.39
Diameter (mm) 38
Edge serrated
Certificate serialized
Face value20 dollars
Artist Margaret Best (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)