Ymir, British Columbia
Ymir /ˈwaɪmər/ is a small town in the Regional District of Central Kootenay of British Columbia, Canada.[1] It is located between Nelson and Salmo on Highway 6. Ymir was originally known as Quartz Creek. The townsite was laid out in 1897 by railway magnate D.C. Corbin. Today Ymir consists of a store and two hotels, plus an assortment of residential properties. It is located near Whitewater Ski Hill. The Salmo River runs through the center of the town. Ymir is about 10 km from the town of Salmo, where the annual music festival Shambhala takes place.
Village of Ymir | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Ymir and the Salmo River | |
  Village of Ymir | |
| Coordinates: 49°17′N 117°13′W[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Post office founded | N/A |
| Incorporated (Village) | N/A |
| Incorporated (Town) | N/A |
| Government | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 730 m (2,395 ft) |
| Population (2016) | |
| • Total | 245 |
| • Density | 224.7/km2 (582/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST |
Name
The name Ymir is originally that of the father of all giants in Scandinavian mythology, whom Odin slew to make the world from his bones, blood and skull (mountains, sea and sky). Local pronunciation of the name is WHY-mirr.[2] The name originally referred to the nearby Ymir Range, and was applied by geologist and explorer George Mercer Dawson.[3]
Climate
| Climate data for South Slocan (~20km West of Nelson) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10 (50) |
14.5 (58.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
30 (86) |
35.5 (95.9) |
38 (100) |
41 (106) |
39.5 (103.1) |
36.1 (97.0) |
26.1 (79.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
41 (106) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −0.2 (31.6) |
3.6 (38.5) |
9.3 (48.7) |
15.5 (59.9) |
20.4 (68.7) |
24.2 (75.6) |
28 (82) |
28.5 (83.3) |
21.7 (71.1) |
13.8 (56.8) |
4.8 (40.6) |
0.2 (32.4) |
14.1 (57.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
1 (34) |
4.9 (40.8) |
8.5 (47.3) |
10.1 (50.2) |
10 (50) |
5.8 (42.4) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
1.6 (34.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −31.7 (−25.1) |
−30.6 (−23.1) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
0 (32) |
2.8 (37.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−11 (12) |
−23.5 (−10.3) |
−35 (−31) |
−35 (−31) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 94 (3.7) |
69.8 (2.75) |
62.4 (2.46) |
61 (2.4) |
68.2 (2.69) |
71.1 (2.80) |
54.4 (2.14) |
49.4 (1.94) |
51.4 (2.02) |
61.6 (2.43) |
104 (4.1) |
105.9 (4.17) |
853.2 (33.59) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 55.1 (21.7) |
21.3 (8.4) |
5.9 (2.3) |
0.7 (0.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1.8 (0.7) |
25.2 (9.9) |
63.3 (24.9) |
173.2 (68.2) |
| Source: Environment Canada[4] | |||||||||||||
Television
Ymir was featured on the historical television series Gold Trails and Ghost Towns, season 2, episode 13.
In film
The 2012 film The Tall Man, starring Jessica Biel, was shot in Ymir.
Notable people
- Arthur Lakes: geologist, artist, writer, teacher and minister, emigrated with his two sons to Ymir.
- Mickey MacKay: professional ice hockey player, died in a car crash near Ymir.
- Pablo Schreiber: actor, born in Ymir.
References
- "Ymir". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
- "Ymir". Encyclopedia of British Columbia. (2000). Harbour Publishing
- V., Akrigg, G. P. (1997). British Columbia place names. Akrigg, Helen B. (3rd ed.). Victoria, BC: UBC Press. ISBN 0774806362. OCLC 41086359.
- Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 29 March 2010