The emergence of contemporary valley images: a comparison of landscape perceptions of three valleys in north-western British Columbia, Canada

Divergent landscape perceptions have emerged among the Tatshenshini-Alsek, Taku, and Stikine River valleys in northern British Columbia, Canada, shaped by provincial park management, activism, and media influence. While the Taku and Tatshenshini-Alsek valleys retain their wild, untamed images—supported by local First Nations—the Stikine valley has been popularized as 'eye candy' of the north. This study identifies how factors such as environmental advocacy, recreational activity growth, and park policies contribute to these contrasting public perceptions, using landscape perception theory to analyze the underlying mechanisms.

French, D. E. (2023). The emergence of contemporary valley images: a comparison of landscape perceptions of three valleys in north-western British Columbia, Canada. The Elgar Companion to Valleys, 111–124. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789906967.00017