Kouchibouguac National Park

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Kouchibouguac National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Kouchibouguac National Park
Location of Kouchibouguac National Park in Canada
Location of Kouchibouguac National Park in Canada
Location New Brunswick, Canada
Nearest city Miramichi, New Brunswick
Coordinates 46°50′59″N 64°58′01″W / 46.84972, -64.96694
Area 239 km²
Established 1969
Governing body Parks Canada

Kouchibouguac National Park is located on the east coast of New Brunswick, north of the town of Richibucto. The park includes barrier islands, sand dunes, lagoons, salt marshes and forests. It provides habitat for seabirds, including the endangered Piping Plover, and the second largest tern colony in North America. Colonies of harbour seals and grey seals also inhabit the park's 25 kilometres of sand dunes. The park's size is 238 km². Recreational activities in the park include swimming, cycling and hiking.

Kouchibouguac River, taken from the Tweedie  trail inside the park
Kouchibouguac River, taken from the Tweedie trail inside the park

The park was founded in 1969 in order to set aside sensitive sand dunes and bogs. While it was developed in the 1970s, Parks Canada encountered great difficulty expropriating land from several land owners (approximately 215 families). The most notable of these was Jackie Vautour, who still lives on his property.

Kellys Beach, a very long sand dune, is a popular attraction along with a number of bogs, a boardwalk trail, eight hiking trails, a network of bicycle trails, two campgrounds, canoe and boat launch and Cap-St-Louis fishing port. In the Summer months come meet the park interpreters for great education programs.

The park is named after the Kouchibouguac River. The river's name means "river of the long tides" in Mi'kmaq.

Other rivers that flow through the park include the:

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