Caribou Mountains Wildland Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Caribou Mountains Wildland Park | |
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| IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) | |
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| Location: | Alberta, Canada |
| Nearest city: | Fort Smith, Fort Vermilion |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 5,910 km² |
| Established: | 2001 |
| Governing body: | Alberta Community Development |
Caribou Mountains Wildland Park is a large wilderness area in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Caribou Mountains, immediately west of Wood Buffalo National Park in a remote backcounrty area. The closest community in Alberta is Fort Vermilion.
It was established by the Alberta Government in 2001 under the "Special Places program" by Order-in-Council 308/2001.[1] At 5900 km², it is the largest provincial protected area (the nearby Wood Buffalo National Park is managed by the federal government).
[edit] Conservation
The park protects fragile wetland that offers nesting grounds for a variety of bird species and core habitat of the threatened woodland caribou herd.[2] A small number of wood buffalo is also present in the south-eastern part of the park. The Caribou Mountains reach an elevation of 1,030 m, almost 700 m higher than the surrounding area, and have a unique environment.
The park is located in the hydrographic basin of the Great Slave Lake and that of the Peace River. Yates River, Whitesand River, Buffalo River, Wentzel River, Wentzel Lake and Margaret Lake are found in the park area.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Alberta Wilderness Association - Caribou Mountains
- ^ Alberta Community Development - Caribou Mountains Wildland Park
