Whiteshell Provincial Park

Whiteshell Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)

A river sparkling in the sun flows over rocks churning into whitewater. Thick forest grows down close to the water.

Whiteshell river within the park
Map showing the location of Whiteshell Provincial Park
Location Manitoba, Canada
Nearest city Winnipeg, Manitoba
Coordinates 49.55°N 95.20°W
Area 2,721 km2 (1,051 sq mi)
Established 1961
Governing body Government of Manitoba

Whiteshell Provincial Park is a 2,721 km2 park centrally located in Canada in the province of Manitoba. It can be found in the southeast of the province along the Manitoba-Ontario boundary, approximately 130 km east of Winnipeg. The park is located in the Canadian Shield region and has many rivers, remote lakes, boreal forest and bare granite ridges. The park has rare and interesting archeological sites of petroforms on flat granite ridges. The park is used year-round for nature-oriented recreation activities.[1]

Whiteshell Provincial Park was designated a provincial park by the Government of Manitoba in 1961.[2] The park is considered to be a Class II protected area under the IUCN protected area management categories.[3]

History

The Bannock Point petroform site

The Ojibway people and various other groups before them initially populated the area. The Ojibway, or Anishinaabe, first mapped some of the area on birch bark. The name of the park is derived from the cowrie shells that were used in ceremonies by the Anishinaabe, including the Ojibway, and among them the Midewiwin practicioners. The historic Winnipeg River and the Whiteshell River are the main rivers that run through this remote park and wilderness area. For thousands of years aboriginal peoples used the area for harvesting wild rice, hunting, fishing, trade, ceremonies, teaching, and dwelling. In 1734, La Vérendrye was the first European to explore the area during his quest for a route to the Western Sea. First Nations, fur traders, and trappers used the Winnipeg River as the main travel route through this area, along with the Whiteshell River.

Whiteshell Park has many pink granite ridges, cliffs, and flat granite areas used for petroform making by First Nation peoples. There is also archaeological evidence of ancient copper trading, prehistoric quartz mining, and stone tool making in the area. The copper trade, going east to Lake Superior, began approximately 6000 years ago. Many artifacts and prehistoric camps were discovered in Whiteshell Provincial Park and are protected under the Heritage Act of Manitoba. The park is still used by aboriginal peoples for wild rice harvesting and ceremonies.

Around 1920, the development of roads brought tourists into the Whiteshell area. The first summer cottages were close to the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway. In 1922 Brereton Lake Dominion Park was created. A decade later and in 1930 the park was transferred to the province of Manitoba and established the Whiteshell Forest Reserve. Further roadwork continued, linking the reserve to Ontario in the east and campgrounds and picnic sites further north. In 1961, Whiteshell was given Provincial Park status and was set aside for future generations to enjoy. A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected at the Whiteshell Provincial Park by the province to commemorate Dawson Road's role in Manitoba's heritage.[4]

Museums

Whiteshell Natural History Museum

The Whiteshell Natural History Museum

The Whiteshell Natural History Museum, opened in 1960 and located in a log building, features mounted wildlife displays of local animals. Other displays include the boreal forest, Canadian Aboriginal peoples, petroforms, sturgeon and the Winnipeg River. The museum is open during the summer season, and is located on PR 307 at Nutimik Lake. Admission is free.

Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary

The Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary and Interpretive Centre is located at PTH 44, just east of Rennie. The sanctuary protects nesting Canada geese each spring, and the Centre provides information about the biology of the geese and the history of the sanctuary, as well as an observation gallery for the lake and interpretive programs.

Whiteshell Trappers Museum

The Whiteshell Trappers Museum is located on the grounds of the Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary. Built in 1997, the museum is modeled after a fur trapper's cabin. Interpreters discuss the history of fur trapping, trapping techniques, and local wildlife.

West Hawk Museum

Located at West Hawk Lake, the West Hawk Museum features exhibits about the area's geology, area gold mining, and the formation of the lake from the impact of meteorite that formed the West Hawk crater.

Whiteshell Fish Hatchery Interpretive Centre

The Whiteshell Fish Hatchery Interpretive Centre lets visitors learn about the hatchery's activities in raising lake sturgeon, trout and walleye. The hatchery is located along the Whiteshell River just north of West Hawk Lake. The fish are used to help stock lakes all around Manitoba. It is open during the summer months for tours and education.

Directions

The Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) will take visitors to Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Additional entry points to the park from the west side include Provincial Road 307 at Seven Sisters Falls and Provincial Trunk Highway 44 at Rennie. The park is located along the eastern side of Southern Manitoba, along the Ontario border. It is the first area that you enter into Manitoba from the east, along the Trans-Canada Highway. There is only one road that enters into Manitoba from the east side due to the difficult Canadian Shield terrain and to protect the park areas.

Park permits

Park vehicle permits are required year-round in Manitoba Provincial Parks. Permits are available at all campgrounds and district offices, as well as most business locations where fishing and hunting licenses are sold.

Wildlife

Whiteshell Provincial Park is home to a variety of large mammals including black bear, moose, white-tailed deer, wolves and lynx. Smaller mammals such as otter, marten, fisher, red fox, mink, hares, beavers, bats, skunks, raccoons, and red squirrels also inhabit the park. The birds in the park include owls, bald eagles, ruby throated hummingbirds, chickadees, blue jays, grosbeaks, turkey vultures, redpolls, woodpeckers, osprey, loons, ruffed grouse, ducks and Canada geese. There are snakes, muskrats, turtles and a wide variety of insects found in the park. The lakes and rivers within the park are home to perch, walleye, jackfish, lake sturgeon, black crappie, burbot, whitefish, trout, white bass, smallmouth bass and mooneye. Smoked mooneye meat is highly valued and sold as "Winnipeg goldeye".

Activities

Mountain biking

Lakes

Piers at Falcon Lake

Whiteshell Provincial Park contains thirteen main freshwater lakes which are used for recreation such as boating, watersports and angling. These lakes are:

In addition there are many more remote lakes throughout the park that are not easily accessible, such as George Lake, Crowduck Lake, and Horseshoe Lake.

See also

References

  1. ↑ A System Plan for Manitoba's Provincial Parks (PDF). Government of Manitoba. 1998. p. 56. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Whiteshell Provincial Park". Find Your Favourite Park. Government of Manitoba. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Whiteshell Provincial Park". Protected Planet. United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Manitoba Plaque
  5. ↑ "Adventures await you in lake livin' country!". Falcon and Westhawk Lake Livin'. Falcon and West Hawk Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ↑ http://www.wcscanada.org/Wildlife/LakeSturgeon.aspx#.VB2wFJVI5XE

Coordinates: 49°55′N 95°20′W / 49.917°N 95.333°W / 49.917; -95.333

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