A district municipality is a designation for a class of municipalities found in several locations, including Canada, Lithuania, and South Africa.
34-572: Sparwood is a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia . It is the second-largest community on the Elk River . Located approximately 30 kilometres from Fernie , the District Municipality of Sparwood has approximately 4,200 residents. Sparwood is quite large for its population, taking up an area of 191.01 square kilometres and incorporating the local coal mines . In
68-595: A dry winter, are found in parts of East Asia, like China, where the Siberian High makes the winters colder than places like Scandinavia or Alaska interior but extremely dry (typically with around 5 millimeters (0.20 in) of rainfall equivalent per month), meaning that winter snow cover is very limited. The Dwc climate can be found in: In the Southern Hemisphere, small pockets of the Lesotho Highlands and
102-495: A province. South Africa recognizes three types of municipality; metropolitan, district and local. District municipalities are made up of a number of local municipalities. The vast majority of land consists of district municipalities, with metropolitan municipalities being reserved for large cities and the areas around them. There are eight metropolitan municipalities, and 44 district municipalities subdivided into 226 local municipalities. This British Columbia -related article
136-773: A result of the low overnight lows in summer, September's mean of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) places Sparwood just above subarctic climates (Dfc) in classification. The following people were born in Sparwood: Since 1980, Sparwood has been the sister city of Kamisunagawa in Hokkaido , Japan . 49°43′59″N 114°53′07″W / 49.73306°N 114.88528°W / 49.73306; -114.88528 ( Sparwood ) District municipality Under provincial law, municipalities in British Columbia are to be designated "district municipalities" on incorporation if
170-473: A rural municipality, is one of three municipal types, along with towns and regional municipalities. District municipalities and county municipalities are further considered rural municipalities . The province's twelve district municipalities are referred to as municipal districts by Statistics Canada . Currently, only one district municipality exists in Ontario – District Municipality of Muskoka . It
204-465: A subarctic climate, receives an average rain-equivalent of 101.91 inches (2,588.5 mm) of precipitation per year. Coastal areas of Khabarovsk Krai also have much higher precipitation in summer due to orographic influences (up to 175 millimetres (6.9 in) in July in some areas), whilst the mountainous Kamchatka peninsula and Sakhalin island are even wetter, since orographic moisture isn't confined to
238-459: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This South Africa-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about geography terminology is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Subarctic climate The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate , or boreal climate ) is a continental climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It
272-533: Is another important industry. Sparwood/Elk Valley Airport is the local airport for general aviation . The closest airport with commercial service is Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport . Road access is provided by the Crowsnest Highway . Sparwood was formed on 12 May 1966 accepting people from the nearby towns of Michel, Natal, and Middletown (an urban renewal). Since the beginning of Sparwood, it has experienced many ups and downs in coal mining,
306-507: Is excessive. The frost-free season is very short, varying from about 45 to 100 days at most, and a freeze can occur anytime outside the summer months in many areas. The first D indicates continentality, with the coldest month below 0 °C (32 °F) (or −3 °C (27 °F)). The second letter denotes precipitation patterns: The third letter denotes temperature: Most subarctic climates have little precipitation, typically no more than 380 mm (15 in) over an entire year due to
340-652: Is found in the following areas: Further north and east in Siberia, continentality increases so much that winters can be exceptionally severe, averaging below −38 °C (−36 °F), even though the hottest month still averages more than 10 °C (50 °F). This creates Dfd climates, which are mostly found in the Sakha Republic : In the Southern Hemisphere , the Dfc climate is found only in small, isolated pockets in
374-558: Is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50°N to 70°N, poleward of the humid continental climates . Like other Class D climates, they are rare in the Southern Hemisphere, only found at some isolated highland elevations. Subarctic or boreal climates are the source regions for the cold air that affects temperate latitudes to the south in winter. These climates represent Köppen climate classification Dfc , Dwc , Dsc , Dfd , Dwd and Dsd . This type of climate offers some of
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#1732844817511408-606: The 2021 census , religious groups in Sparwood included: There are two public schools in Sparwood; Frank J Mitchell which is an Elementary School and the new Sparwood Secondary School . These schools are operated by School District 5 Southeast Kootenay which is based in Cranbrook . Sparwood has a warm-summer humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ) with relatively cold and very snowy winters combined with moderately warm summers with relatively high diurnal temperature variation . As
442-662: The Fernie Memorial Arena killed three workers (two City of Fernie employees and one CIMCO refrigeration employee from Calgary) during the Fernie Ghostriders ' regular season. Because of this tragedy, the City of Fernie declared a state of emergency and people had to evacuate the area for days. The 'Riders were relocated because of this to the Elk Valley Leisure Centre in Sparwood during the 2017–18 KIJHL season until
476-751: The Pacific Ocean , resulting in increased precipitation, especially during the winter months. This climate zone supports the presence of temperate rainforests, mostly on highest areas of the Valdivian rainforest in Chile and the subantarctic forest in Argentina. Climates classified as Dsc or Dsd , with a dry summer, are rare, occurring in very small areas at high elevation around the Mediterranean Basin , Iran , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Alaska and other parts of
510-683: The Snowy Mountains of Australia , the Southern Alps of New Zealand , and the Lesotho Highlands . In South America , this climate occurs on the western slope of the central Andes in Chile and Argentina , where climatic conditions are notably more humid compared to the eastern slope. The presence of the Andes mountain range contributes to a wetter climate on the western slope by capturing moisture from
544-640: The northwestern United States ( Eastern Washington , Eastern Oregon , Southern Idaho , California's Eastern Sierra ), the Russian Far East , Akureyri, Iceland , Seneca, Oregon , and Atlin, British Columbia . Turkey and Afghanistan are exceptions; Dsc climates are common in Northeast Anatolia , in the Taurus and Köroğlu Mountains , and the Central Afghan highlands . In the Southern Hemisphere,
578-416: The subpolar oceanic climate , as the sea is approached where winter temperatures average near or above freezing despite maintaining the short, cool summers. In China and Mongolia, as one moves southwestwards or towards lower elevations, temperatures increase but precipitation is so low that the subarctic climate grades into a cold semi-arid climate . The Dfc climate, by far the most common subarctic type,
612-452: The City of Fernie installed a new chiller unit. The Ghostriders now play at their home rink again. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Sparwood had a population of 3,990 living in 1,815 of its 2,101 total private dwellings, a change of 9.6% from its 2016 population of 3,646. With a land area of 191.3 km (73.9 sq mi), it had a population density of 21.7/km (56.2/sq mi) in 2021. According to
646-801: The Dsc climate is present in South America as a subarctic climate influenced by Mediterranean characteristics, often considered a high-altitude variant of the Mediterranean climate. It is located on the eastern slopes of the central Argentine Andes and in some sections on the Chilean side. While there are no major settlements exhibiting this climate, several localities in the vicinity experience it, such as San Carlos de Bariloche , Villa La Angostura , San Martín de los Andes , Balmaceda , Punta de Vacas , and Termas del Flaco . Climates classified as Dwc or Dwd , with
680-463: The area to be incorporated is greater than 800 hectares (8.0 km ; 2,000 acres) and has an average population density of less than 5 inhabitants per hectare (500/km ; 1,300/sq mi). Municipalities may be incorporated under different classifications under the direction of the province's lieutenant governor , as is the case with the District of North Vancouver . A district municipality, also called
714-430: The coldest month should average below 0 °C (32 °F) (or −3 °C (27 °F)). Record low temperatures can approach −70 °C (−94 °F). With 5–7 consecutive months when the average temperature is below freezing, all moisture in the soil and subsoil freezes solidly to depths of many feet. Summer warmth is insufficient to thaw more than a few surface feet, so permafrost prevails under most areas not near
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#1732844817511748-466: The late 1800s, there was a railroad stop known as Sparwood, which was so named because of the trees from this area being shipped to the coast for manufacturing spars for ocean vessels. The local economy is heavily dependent on steel-making coal mining , one of British Columbia's primary industries. A large part of the population either works in the mines or as tradespeople and labourers in related support industries, such as trucking or as mechanics. Logging
782-406: The long summer days at such latitudes do permit some agriculture. In some areas, ice has scoured rock surfaces bare, entirely stripping off the overburden. Elsewhere, rock basins have been formed and stream courses dammed, creating countless lakes. Should one go northward or even toward a polar sea, one finds that the warmest month has an average temperature of less than 10 °C (50 °F), and
816-423: The long winters and make use of the short summers. Trees are mostly limited to conifers , as few broadleaved trees are able to survive the very low temperatures in winter. This type of forest is also known as taiga , a term which is sometimes applied to the climate found therein as well. Even though the diversity may be low, the area and numbers are high, and the taiga (boreal) forest is the largest forest biome on
850-425: The low temperatures and evapotranspiration . Away from the coasts, precipitation occurs mostly in the summer months, while in coastal areas with subarctic climates the heaviest precipitation is usually during the autumn months when the relative warmth of sea vis-à-vis land is greatest. Low precipitation, by the standards of more temperate regions with longer summers and warmer winters, is typically sufficient in view of
884-418: The most extreme seasonal temperature variations found on the planet: in winter, temperatures can drop to below −50 °C (−58 °F) and in summer, the temperature may exceed 26 °C (79 °F). However, the summers are short; no more than three months of the year (but at least one month) must have a 24-hour average temperature of at least 10 °C (50 °F) to fall into this category of climate, and
918-456: The planet, with most of the forests located in Russia and Canada . The process by which plants become acclimated to cold temperatures is called hardening . Agricultural potential is generally poor, due to the natural infertility of soils and the prevalence of swamps and lakes left by departing ice sheets , and short growing seasons prohibit all but the hardiest of crops. Despite the short season,
952-449: The southern boundary of this climate zone. Seasonal thaw penetrates from 2 to 14 ft (0.6 to 4.3 m), depending on latitude, aspect, and type of ground. Some northern areas with subarctic climates located near oceans (southern Alaska , northern Norway , Sakhalin Oblast and Kamchatka Oblast ), have milder winters and no permafrost, and are more suited for farming unless precipitation
986-403: The subarctic climate grades into a tundra climate not at all suitable for trees. Southward, this climate grades into the humid continental climates with longer summers (and usually less-severe winters) allowing broadleaf trees ; in a few locations close to a temperate sea (as in northern Norway and southern Alaska ), this climate can grade into a short-summer version of an oceanic climate ,
1020-463: The town's primary industry. Sparwood promotes itself extensively as the home of the Terex Titan , at one time the largest truck in the world. The green Titan, in service at Sparwood between 1978 and 1991, stands a few yards from the Crowsnest Highway where it can attract the attention of tourists and travellers. The adjacent tourist information centre serves visitors to the district municipality and
1054-428: The very low evapotranspiration to allow a water-logged terrain in many areas of subarctic climate and to permit snow cover during winter, which is generally persistent for an extended period. A notable exception to this pattern is that subarctic climates occurring at high elevations in otherwise temperate regions have extremely high precipitation due to orographic lift . Mount Washington , with temperatures typical of
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1088-514: The warmer months and creates large glaciers in Kamchatka. Labrador , in eastern Canada, is similarly wet throughout the year due to the semi-permanent Icelandic Low and can receive up to 1,300 millimetres (51 in) of rainfall equivalent per year, creating a snow cover of up to 1.5 metres (59 in) that does not melt until June. Vegetation in regions with subarctic climates is generally of low diversity, as only hardy tree species can survive
1122-567: The wider area. Sparwood is distinguished by mural art which depicts something of the history of the former Michel-Natal mining communities. Sparwood is home to the 2011 B.C. provincial champion boys snowboarding team. Sparwood is also home to the 2011 Junior Boys and 2012 Junior Girls Provincial Bowling champions. Laurie Hockridge of Sparwood and Lethbridge College, is a CCAA-ACSC Hall of Fame inductee (WBB, '87–90). Her legacy includes back-to-back national championships and two national championship MVP trophies. On 17 October 2017 an ammonia leak at
1156-426: Was formerly a district but has undergone heavy urbanization and development , particularly from tourism , as it is the heart of Ontario's cottage country . As a result, it was "upgraded" from a district (such as neighbouring Parry Sound District ) to having powers similar to a regional municipality , such as York Regional Municipality . In South Africa, district municipalities are administrative divisions of
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