User:Smably/Sandbox/Cape Scott Provincial Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cape Scott Provincial Park | |
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| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Nearest city | Holberg |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 222.94 km² |
| Established | 1973 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
Cape Scott Provincial Park is a provincial park located at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
The park is known for its old growth forest and sandy beaches. The terrain is rugged and the area is known for its heavy rain and violent storms.
The park's highest point is Mt. St. Patrick, 422 meters above sea level. The park's largest lake is Eric Lake, at 44 hectares.
[edit] History
From 1897 until 1910, Danish settlers tried to establish a fishing community near San Josef Bay. Due to the harsh climate and lack of governmental support, the community failed and all settlers left the area.
Some artifacts can still be seen in the park, including a three-metre-tall granite tombstone, several corduroy roads, the ruins of a farmhouse, and many rusty farming implements.
A lighthouse was built on the cape in 1960 and is still in operation. Despite its remote location, it is still manned by a lighthouse keeper, and is one of the few lighthouses that has not been automated.
[edit] Recreation
The park is a popular destination for backpackers during the less rainy summer season. Though there is a road to the southern end of the park, most of the area is accessible only by foot. There are several designated campsites with pit toilets and wooden tent platforms.
[edit] Conservation
At higher elevations, the park is forested with red and yellow cedar, Lodgepole Pine, Western Hemlock, and fir, while the coast is dominated Sitka Spruce. A thick undergrowth is made up mostly of salal, salmonberry, evergreen huckleberry and fern.
Canada Geese and other migratory birds often stop in the park's lagoon, and the shoreline is dominated by gulls and other sea birds.
Coastal black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, black bears, cougars and wolves are found in the forested and open uplands. Seals, sea lions, sea otters, killer whales and gray whales all inhabit the waters offshore. Visitors to San Josef Bay will often see river otters and mink in the river and estuary, as well as Canada geese, common merganser and, in the winter, Trumpeter swans.
