Georgian Bay Islands National Park
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| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Location: | Ontario, Canada |
| Nearest city: | Midland, Ontario |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 13 km² |
| Established: | 1929 |
| Governing body: | Parks Canada |
Georgian Bay Islands National Park consists of 59 small islands or parts of islands in Georgian Bay, near Port Severn, Ontario. The park was established in 1929. The total park area is approximately 13 km².
The islands blend the exposed rocks and pines of the Canadian Shield with the hardwood forests found further south. The park can only be reached by boat; there are limited camping facilities and a visitor centre on the largest island, Beausoleil Island.
The park provides habitat for 33 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the threatened eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Some of the more isolated islands provide nesting areas for colonies of gulls and terns. Black Terns can be found nesting on some islands here.
The park is part of the Georgian Bay Littoral Biosphere Reserve.
[edit] Beausoleil Island
Beausoleil Island is the largest island in the park and it offers island tent camping, overnight and day docking, heritage education programs, a Visitor Centre and hiking trails. Wheelchair accessible sites and reserved campsites are also available at the Cedar Spring campground on Beausoleil Island.
Beausoleil Island is one of the last refuges for the seldom seen eastern massasauga; the only snake in Ontario whose venom potentially dangerous to humans. On sunny days, the Georgian Bay's cobalt waters form a striking counterpart to the light blue of the sky, the pinkish rocks of the Canadian Shield, and the dark green of the park's famous windswept pines. The Cambrian Trail, in the north part of the island, offers especially striking views of these natural features.
Northern Beausoleil Island's characteristic bedrock and wetland environment is rich in many species and is a major breeding area for amphibians, turtles and snakes. Southern Beausoleil Island's hardwood and mixed forests are good representations of regional woodland communities.
 The waters between Finger Point and Thumb Point near Cedar Springs, Beausoleil Island |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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National parks: Aulavik • Auyuittuq • Banff • Bruce Peninsula • Cape Breton Highlands • Elk Island • Forillon • Fundy • Georgian Bay Islands • Glacier • Grasslands • Gros Morne • Gulf Islands • Gwaii Haanas • Ivvavik • Jasper • Kejimkujik • Kluane • Kootenay • Kouchibouguac • La Mauricie • Mingan Archipelago • Mount Revelstoke • Nahanni • Pacific Rim • Point Pelee • Prince Edward Island • Pukaswa • Prince Albert • Quttinirpaaq • Riding Mountain • Sirmilik • St. Lawrence Islands • Terra Nova • Torngat Mountains • Tuktut Nogait • Ukkusiksalik • Vuntut • Wapusk • Waterton Lakes • Wood Buffalo • Yoho |
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