the fraser river forms an important transportation corridor when it drains much of central and southern british columbia flowing to the pacific ocean. other major rivers include the upper columbia river and the kootenay river. in northern b.c. the stikine, nass and skeena rivers flow toward the pacific ocean, and peace river flows northeast toward the arctic ocean. hydroelectric resources in b.c. are highly developed, and pulp and paper and lumber mills are common throughout the province. the fraser, nass, and skeena rivers have not been dammed in order to protect the salmon runs on them. rivers and their valleys have for a long time provided routes through the mountains for people in b.c.