There are three mountain ranges which separate Kootenay Country from the rest of Canada. They are the Purcells, which is the easternmost range, the Selkirks which is a range within a range, and the Monashees to the west.

Towns are nestled into pockets of land separated by stunning mountains and beautiful lakes and rivers. During the late 1880's this area produced almost all of Canada's silver, gold and lead. Although mining is nearly a distant memory in this region the Kootenays now flourish with tourism and small cottage industries.