Richmond

The city of Richmond is a lovely coastal city located in the Lower Mainland of BC. The community is considered to be part of Metro Vancouver. Richmond is bordered by the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east and Delta to the south. The Strait of Georgia forms the western border of Richmond.

The Vancouver International Airport if situated within the city limits of Richmond and is found on Sea Island. The city is made up of the islands in the delta of the Fraser River. The biggest and most populous of these islands is Lulu Island. The second biggest island is Sea Island, home to the Vancouver International Airport. Additionally, there are thirteen smaller islands which make up Richmond's 129.66 square kilometers of land area. The quaint fishing village of Steveston is even included within Richmond city and it is situated in Richmond's far southwest corner. The Richmond Olympic Oval was made nearby and was among the place for speed-skating events in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Because the land area of Richmond occupies islands in a river delta, the soil is rich and alluvial making it great for agriculture. In fact, the area was among the first sites in British Columbia to be farmed during 19th century by Europeans.

Richmond's geographical location also brings about several concerns. Since the land is just above sea level, the area is prone to flooding, particularly in times of high tide. All of the major islands are presently bordered by a system of dykes, to be able to deal with this condition. These dykes serve to protect the city from anticipated flooding, although, they are not as huge as the New Orleans levees or those found in the Netherlands. If there ever is a large earthquake within the area, there is a possibility that the dykes can rupture. This would cause the alluvial soil to potentially liquefy which will result in extensive damage.

Richmond city is likewise at risk of experiencing a major flood if the Fraser River has an unusually high spring freshet. There are a variety of bird sanctuaries and recreational trails that run along the tops of many of the dykes. These broad, flat dirt roads make ideal locations for individuals who jog, families to walk together with strollers and young kids as well as the perfect location for people who walk their dogs. Richmond city supports approximately 1400 acres of parkland.

The city supports around 100,000 jobs in various areas including retail, tourism, aviation and airport services, light manufacturing, fishing, government and agriculture. Richmond city is also a leading location within the region for high-technology businesses. These companies comprise the Nintendo Corporation of Canada and MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates.