Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
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| Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Nearest city | Fort Nelson |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 10.82 km² |
| Established | April, 1957 |
| Governing body | BC Ministry of Environment, BC Parks |
Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is home to the second largest hot spring in Canada.
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[edit] History and conservation
The Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park was created in April 1957. The first boardwalk and pool facilities were built by the American Army in 1942.
The park contains a warm water swamp and boreal forest which supports rich and diverse plant communities as well as mammal and bird species. Watch for moose feeding in the warm water swamps. Bears, as well, are a common hazard in summer months. Due to the lush plant life (including 14 species of orchids) influenced by the warmth of the springs, the area was originally known as the "Tropical Valley".
[edit] Recreation
There are two hot springs with water temperatures ranging from 42° C to 52° C; the nearest is the Alpha pool. Beta pool is beyond Alpha and is larger, cooler and deeper.
There are raised walkways from the parking area to the springs so that the delicate muskeg that forms the swamp is not disturbed. The walkway was the scene of a much-publicized black bear attack that killed two tourists on August 14, 1997.[citation needed]
The campground is open year-round.
[edit] Amenities
- Bathing pools
- Change houses
- Wheelchair access
- Playground
- A 300m long wooden walkway leads from the parking lot to the hotsprings pool, crossing picturesque muskeg.
- environmentally friendly outhouse
[edit] Nearby attractions
- A lodge with restaurant is located across the highway, the Liard Hot Springs Lodge.
- Muncho Lake Provincial Park is just 30 km south of the Liard Hotsprings.
- Liard River Corridor Provincial Park and Protected Area borders the park to the south.
[edit] Location
The park is located at mile 497 (or km 800) on the Alaska Highway, between Fort Nelson (307 km north-east) and Watson Lake (218 km south west).
[edit] Size
1082 hectares in size.
[edit] Photo Gallery
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[edit] See also
- List of British Columbia Provincial Parks
- List of Canadian provincial parks
- List of National Parks of Canada
[edit] External links
- Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park - on BC Parks (Ministry of Environment) website
- Bell's Alaska - mile by mile description of the Alaska Highway
- Liard River Hot Springs - at GoSleepGo
