The central rainforest coast region of British Columbia is a vast and largely uninhabited area, incised by deep, glacially formed inlets called fiords. These narrow, finger-like inlets reach kilometres into the mainland of British Columbia, creating extensive shoreline and bringing seawater deep into the heartland of the steep coastal mountains. Two such fiords, Mussel and Kynoch, compose the major portion of spectacular Fiordland Recreation Area. Kynoch and Mussel Inlets are astoundingly beautiful; each features massive and steep granite cliff faces, with fertile estuaries tucked into many of their bays. Spectacular waterfalls cascade down the steep cliffs into the deep ocean channels below. The vegetation in Fiordland lives up to every description of west coast temperate rainforest; lush and dense, the forest here is old growth at its best. Fiordland Recreation Area, composed of 6,645 hectares (16,400 acres) of marine area and 84,355 hectares (210,000 acres) of land area, is a little known jewel in British Columbia's protected areas system, and one that visitors will never forget.