Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Parc national des Îles-de-la-Baie-Georgienne
Cedar Springs, Beausoleil Island
Map showing the location of Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Map showing the location of Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Location of in Canada
Map showing the location of Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Map showing the location of Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Location in Southern Ontario
LocationThirty Thousand Islands, Ontario, Canada
Nearest cityMidland, Ontario
Coordinates44°52′40″N 79°52′29″W / 44.87778°N 79.87472°W / 44.87778; -79.87472
Area13.5 km2 (5.2 sq mi)
Established1929
Governing bodyParks Canada

Georgian Bay Islands National Park (established 1929) consists of 63 small islands or parts of islands in Georgian Bay, near Port Severn, Ontario.[1] The total park area is approximately 13.5 km2 (5.2 sq mi). Prior to the creation of Fathom Five National Marine Park, Flowerpot Island was also a part of the park.[2]

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 and all of the islands are open to the public. Limited camping and docking facilities, trails and cabins are only available on the largest island, Beausoleil Island.[3]

It is part of the Georgian Bay Littoral Biosphere Reserve.

Wildlife

It is home to mammalian species such as white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, coyote, timber wolf, lynx, bobcat, porcupine, raccoon, beaver, red and gray fox species, chipmunk, and red squirrel. This park also provides habitat for 33 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the five lined skink, eastern hognose snake, the eastern fox snake, and the threatened eastern Massasauga rattlesnake.[4] Some of the more isolated islands provide nesting areas for colonies of gulls and terns.

Beausoleil Island

Beausoleil Island is the largest island in the park and it offers island tent camping, overnight and day docking, heritage education programs, and hiking trails. Wheelchair accessible sites and reserved campsites are also available at the Cedar Spring campground on Beausoleil Island.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About - Georgian Bay Islands National Park". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Saint Lawrence Lowlands". Parks Canada. 2009-04-15. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  3. ↑ National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of Canada (Second ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Partners. 2017. pp. 132–137.
  4. ↑ https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/georg/decouvrir-discovers/natcul2. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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