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Experts
Canada's
National ParksHere's a listing of some
of Canada's most beautiful and famous National Parks. I've
included one or two from each province or territory in Canada with
a brief description of each to show the amazing amount of diversity
in this country.
British Columbia
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Pacific Rim National Park is located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and consists out of three sections: Long Beach, the Broken Island Group, and the West Coast Trail. Each unit is different and has its own characteristic. The West Coast Trail is one of Canada's most scenic and grueling backpacking trails. The park sees mild temperatures and heavy rains year round and is home to a dense coastal rain forest.
Pacific Rim National Park is located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and consists out of three sections: Long Beach, the Broken Island Group, and the West Coast Trail. Each unit is different and has its own characteristic. The West Coast Trail is one of Canada's most scenic and grueling backpacking trails. The park sees mild temperatures and heavy rains year round and is home to a dense coastal rain forest.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park occupies an area of
1349.3 square kilometres in south-eastern British Columbia. The
park is bisected by the Trans-Canada Highway. The park was carved
from the rugged Selkirk and Purcell Mountains by glaciers. Today
you will find steep mountains, narrow valleys, icefields and
glaciers. Many avalanche slopes, caused by heavy snowfall can be
seen. There is an unique cave system which is listed in Canada's
top 10 largest cave systems.
Alberta
Banff National Park is Canada's first and most heavily visited National Park. The park is situated in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, 111 kilometres east of Calgary and adjacent to Jasper National Park in the north. The mix of towering mountains, glittering glaciers and icefields, lush alpine meadows, and natural mineral hot springs makes up one of Canada's most exciting recreational areas. It's easily accessible and offers great camping and hiking trips but is often overcrowded in the summer months.
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is with a size of 10 880 square kilometers the largest and most northerly of the four adjoining mountain parks. The wonderful park of glacial origin, with towering mountain peaks up to 3747 m, is home to an abundant wildlife, including moose, elk, mule deer, black bear, coyote and bighorn sheep.
Jasper National Park is located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is with a size of 10 880 square kilometers the largest and most northerly of the four adjoining mountain parks. The wonderful park of glacial origin, with towering mountain peaks up to 3747 m, is home to an abundant wildlife, including moose, elk, mule deer, black bear, coyote and bighorn sheep.
Saskatchewan
Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park is the first national park of Canada to preserve a portion of the mixed prairie grasslands. The park will eventually have a total size of 906.4 sq km. It is located between Val Marie and Killdear, south of Swift Current and west of Assiniboia. The park protects an unique flora and fauna, including Canada's only black-tailed prairie dogs and other rare reptiles and amphibians that are mainly spotted along the Frenchman River Valley.
Grasslands National Park is the first national park of Canada to preserve a portion of the mixed prairie grasslands. The park will eventually have a total size of 906.4 sq km. It is located between Val Marie and Killdear, south of Swift Current and west of Assiniboia. The park protects an unique flora and fauna, including Canada's only black-tailed prairie dogs and other rare reptiles and amphibians that are mainly spotted along the Frenchman River Valley.
Manitoba
Wapusk National Park
Wapusk National Park is located in northern Manitoba and protects one of the world's largest known polar bear maternity denning areas. Wapusk is a Cree word for 'white bear'. If you decide to visit the park, please make sure to obey all safety precautions while in polar bear country!
Wapusk National Park is located in northern Manitoba and protects one of the world's largest known polar bear maternity denning areas. Wapusk is a Cree word for 'white bear'. If you decide to visit the park, please make sure to obey all safety precautions while in polar bear country!
Ontario
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Bruce Peninsula National Park is situated on the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The spectacular park, with a size of 155 square kilometers at the end of the Niagara Escarpment, consists out of limestone cliffs, caves and underground streams, and ancient forests with some of the oldest trees in Canada. You may even discover rare orchids. A great park for hiking or sea kayaking in the Water's of Georgian Bay.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is situated on the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The spectacular park, with a size of 155 square kilometers at the end of the Niagara Escarpment, consists out of limestone cliffs, caves and underground streams, and ancient forests with some of the oldest trees in Canada. You may even discover rare orchids. A great park for hiking or sea kayaking in the Water's of Georgian Bay.
Quebec
Forillon National
Park
Forillon National Park is situated on the extreme north-eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula and has a total size of 240.4 square kilometers. The spectacular coastline is made out of limestone cliffs, pebble beaches and rocks. The park is covered by boreal forest, where you may see moose, deer, and black bears. Offshore you may enjoy whales and seals.
Forillon National Park is situated on the extreme north-eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula and has a total size of 240.4 square kilometers. The spectacular coastline is made out of limestone cliffs, pebble beaches and rocks. The park is covered by boreal forest, where you may see moose, deer, and black bears. Offshore you may enjoy whales and seals.
New
Brunswick
Fundy National Park
Fundy National Park is a 206 sq km park containing exhibits, self-guided trails, picnic areas and scenic viewpoints. The park is home to the world's highest tides. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Bay of Fundy; coastal cliffs and rolling forested hills.
Fundy National Park is a 206 sq km park containing exhibits, self-guided trails, picnic areas and scenic viewpoints. The park is home to the world's highest tides. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Bay of Fundy; coastal cliffs and rolling forested hills.
Nova
Scotia
Cape Breton Highlands National
Park
The headlands and cliffs of Cape Breton Highlands tower over the rich, natural heritage that is all around. Home to the famous Cabot Trail, the land is blessed with spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and a human history that stretches back to the last Ice Age. The park offers many accessible treasures and experiences remarkable in their diversity, beauty, and wonder.
The headlands and cliffs of Cape Breton Highlands tower over the rich, natural heritage that is all around. Home to the famous Cabot Trail, the land is blessed with spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and a human history that stretches back to the last Ice Age. The park offers many accessible treasures and experiences remarkable in their diversity, beauty, and wonder.
Prince Edward
Island
Prince Edward Island National Park
This is one of Canada's smallest national parks, offering 40 km of some of the finest salt-water beaches in Canada. A blend of sand dunes, red sandstone cliffs and heritage abound has made this park a popular one. Green Gables House, known internationally through L.M. Montgomery's classic novel, Anne of Green Gables, is also located in the park.
This is one of Canada's smallest national parks, offering 40 km of some of the finest salt-water beaches in Canada. A blend of sand dunes, red sandstone cliffs and heritage abound has made this park a popular one. Green Gables House, known internationally through L.M. Montgomery's classic novel, Anne of Green Gables, is also located in the park.
Newfoundland
and Labrador
Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park, an 1805 sq. km park, is a must for its spectacular and varied geography and great natural beauty offering an abundance of wildlife, scenery and activities. Set aside as a National Park in 1973, Gros Morne is popular with hikers who enjoy the wild, uninhabited mountains and camp areas by the sea. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The Long Range Traverse hike across the park is a legendary trip for it's steep climbs and isolated back-country wilderness.
Gros Morne National Park, an 1805 sq. km park, is a must for its spectacular and varied geography and great natural beauty offering an abundance of wildlife, scenery and activities. Set aside as a National Park in 1973, Gros Morne is popular with hikers who enjoy the wild, uninhabited mountains and camp areas by the sea. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The Long Range Traverse hike across the park is a legendary trip for it's steep climbs and isolated back-country wilderness.
Yukon
Territory
Kluane National Park and
Reserve
Kluane National Park and Reserve is located 150 km west of Whitehorse and encompasses an area of 22,000 sq km. The park contains unclimbed peaks, the world's largest nonpolar icefields, crystal clear lakes, glaciers and an abundance of wildlife. It is a United Nations World Heritage Site and home to Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan (5950 m). The park is popular with hikers enjoying marked or less defined routes surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Kluane National Park and Reserve is located 150 km west of Whitehorse and encompasses an area of 22,000 sq km. The park contains unclimbed peaks, the world's largest nonpolar icefields, crystal clear lakes, glaciers and an abundance of wildlife. It is a United Nations World Heritage Site and home to Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan (5950 m). The park is popular with hikers enjoying marked or less defined routes surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Northwest
Territories
Nahanni
National Park Reserve
Nahanni National
Park encompasses 300 square kilometres of the South Mountains in
the south-western corner of the Northwest Territories. The Nahanni
River, named for the Naha, a tribe of
fierce warriors who vanished from the valley, is a dangerous river
notorious for other mysteries as well, like the story of the
headless men found in Deadmen
Valley. Among its
outstanding features are the Tufa mounds at
Rabbitkettle Hotsprings and the karst formations
of the Nahanni and Ram Plateau.
Nunavut
Ellesmere Island National
Park
On the northern
tip of Canada's most northern island, the tenth largest island in
the world, lies one of Earth's last great wilderness domains. Lying
just 800 kilometres from the North Pole and 25 kilometres from
Greenland, our second largest national park offers spectacular
mountain scenery, huge glaciers, deeply
incised fiords, and ice shelves extending far into the sea. It's
going to be tough to make it up there though, so it's not quite a
weekend camping trip!
Sources:
http://www.greatcanadianparks.com/
http://www.national-parks-canada.com/
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