Rarity Brought by Wood Buffalo National Park

(1)

We all have one time in our lives where we wanted to witness everything about nature. We have studied different types of trees in our forestry class, dissected books about the diverse animal life; have known climates and weather conditions of the North Pole and the Equator and so forth.

We all have been exposed to everything outdoor but it had been done inside classrooms or museums or your very own living room through the National Geographic. And even though we know so much about these remote places and untouched dwellings, we all felt empty since we haven’t touched foot on them yet.

We only see them in motion pictures, visualized them while looking at books and magazines or somewhat taste the wind through stories being shared. These vast lands of flora and fauna are so enticing to go to that all we wanted to is to be there at any time possible. For now, let’s try to take a glimpse on one of the most famous parks in Canada, the Wood Buffalo National Park.

Location

Located in Alberta’s far north, the top of the park spills into the Northwest Territories. Hop a plane in Edmonton or Fort McMurray and head up to Fort Smith or Fort Chipewyan, the gateways to Wood Buffalo. Seasoned paddlers thirsting for a unique adventure in the summertime can hit the Athabasca River in Fort McMurray and canoe the 298 km (185 mi) to Fort Chipewyan.

Surrounding this humongous land of nature are Yellowstone, Hay River, High Level, cities of Edmonton and Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan.

At 44,807 square kilometers, Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park and one of the largest in the world. The park was established in 1922 to protect the free-roaming bison herds of the area. Today, the park supports and protects many unique natural and cultural resources, from diverse ecosystems and rare species to the traditional activities of Aboriginal residents.

As a remote wilderness park and World Heritage Site, Wood Buffalo National Park attracts Canadian and international visitors who wish to experience and learn about the unique cultures, landscapes and wildlife of the boreal north.

Climate

Summers in the Wood Buffalo region are very short, but with long days. Temperatures generally range between 10°C and 30°C. Although most summers are quite warm and dry, there are occasional years when the summer weather pattern shifts to cool and wet. Extremes in seasonal temperatures can be experienced at any time of the year.

Autumn tends to be cool, windy and dry. Early autumn (early to mid-September) is an ideal time to visit the park as the insects are fewer and the trees are brilliant with colorful foliage. Intermittent snowfalls can be expected starting in October. Fall freeze-up usually starts around the end of October or early November.

Winters tend to be moderate through December. January and February are generally the coldest months, with temperatures dipping down to -40°C. Temperatures gradually warm in March and April as the days get longer. Spring break-up usually starts around the end of April or early May.

Transportation

Wood Buffalo National Park straddles the Northwest Territories – Alberta border. Park headquarters are in Fort Smith, NT. All-weather road access is available year-round via the MacKenzie Highway.

The MacKenzie Highway links to Highway 5 near Hay River, NT, providing access to the park and Fort Smith. Like many highways in the NT, Highway 5 is mostly hard-packed gravel. There is no all-weather road access to Fort Chipewyan.

(2)

Edmonton is the hub for commercial air travel to the north. Commercial flights are available to both Fort Smith and Fort Chipewyan from Edmonton. Air charters are available between Fort Smith and Fort Chipewyan.

For experienced wilderness travellers, water access by boat or canoe is possible between Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewyan and Fort Fitzgerald. Motorboat access is allowed along the major river corridors: Athabasca River, Rivière des Rochers, Quatre Fourches River, Peace River and Slave River.

What to See

Sweetgrass Station

Sweetgrass Station is in the middle of vast deltaic meadows. The blue waters of Lake Claire shimmer in the distance, and the surrounding marshlands form a rich oasis for waterfowl, raptors and other bird species.

The meadows are a favorite feeding ground for bison. Wolves are often present as well, and the location offers unique opportunities for observing the natural predator-prey relationship between bison and wolves in the wild. Keep in mind, however, that the free-roaming nature of the bison means that sightings cannot be guaranteed at any given time or location.

(3)

North and South Loop Trails

North - A gentle climbing trail to the top of an escarpment. Start at the Salt River Day-use Area or at the trailhead 2.4 km past the Salt River Day-use Area, on the west side of Pine Lake Road.

South - This trail starts at the Salt River (east side of Pine Lake Road) and meanders along a saline creek to Grosbeak Lake. A quick 20-minute shortcut to Grosbeak Lake can be made by starting at the far end of the trail (2.4 km past the Salt River Day-use Area, on the east side of Pine Lake Road).

(4)

Grosbeak Lake

Grosbeak Lake is part of Wood Buffalo National Park’s extensive band of salt plains which cover an area of 370 square kilometers. Unique in Canada, they are formed by water that percolates through underground salt deposits left by an ancient sea around 390 million years ago.

At the location of the Salt Plains, impermeable bedrock has forced the saline water to the surface. As the water evaporates, salt deposits are left behind.

(5)

Lake Claire

Lake Claire is the largest lake which is entirely in Alberta, Canada. It is located entirely in Wood Buffalo National Park, west of Lake Athabasca. It lies between the mouths of Peace River and Athabasca River, and is part of the Peace-Athabasca Delta system.

The lake has a total area of 1436 square kilometers, with 21 square kilometers island area. It is the largest lake located entirely within Albertan boundaries. Lake Athabasca, which straddles the border with Saskatchewan, is larger.

The lake is fed by Birch River and McIvor River, and the lake system also contains Baril Lake and Mamawi Lake. The waters are discharged in the Peace River, finding their way to the Arctic Ocean through the Slave River, Great Slave Lake and Mackenzie River.

(6)

Images:

(1) www.expedia.com
(2) www.fortmcmurraytourism.com
(3) www.norj.ca
(4) www.geocachetrails.com
(5) www.kids.britannica.com
(6) www.listvogue.com

http://laurenceourac.com/rarity-brought-by-wood-buffalo-national-park/