It is not easy for those who have never been to Wood Buffalo to imagine the greatness of this place. National Park Wood bison is the name of the protected area Wood Buffalo National Park, which is located in the north-west of Canada and occupies flat expanses of over 44 thousand square meters. km. It is the largest national park on the American continent, with a total length of 283 km from north to south and 161 km from east to west. Administratively, the park is located in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, and geographically lies between Lakes Athabasca and Great Slave.

Most of the national park is occupied by bodies of water - lakes, rivers, swamps. Having visited Wood Buffalo, you can see one of the most beautiful and huge inland deltas, which was created by nature. It is created by the Athabasca and Peace Rivers, the waters of which flow into Lake Athabasca. The park is predominantly flat, but towards the west, towards the Caribou Mountains, the terrain begins to change. Due to their proximity to the Pole, the protected lands have another advantage for tourists. In winter and autumn, park guests have an amazing opportunity to watch the wonderful reflections of light in the sky - the northern lights.

Wood Buffalo's vegetation is varied and rich. The park contains coniferous and mixed forests, shrubs, woodlands characteristic of the tundra, meadow flowers and grasses, as well as the typical herbaceous flora of wild prairies. All this in combination with local climatic features– long cold winters, replaced by short warm ones summer days– creates wonderful living conditions for many animals and birds.

The permanent inhabitants of the national park are moose, several species of deer (black-tailed and white-tailed deer, caribou), marmots, hares, porcupines, musk rats, skunks and beavers. Interestingly, in this area, researchers discovered a beaver dam, the length of which was 850 m. This is considered a world record, since the length of such structures is usually no more than 100 m. In addition to the listed animals in the park there are American black bears, wolves, wapiti, lynxes, as well as more than two hundred species of birds. Among birds, white whooping cranes and pelicans attract increased attention, but their nesting sites are protected by environmentalists and are therefore closed to tourists.

Along with this, as the name of the park suggests, the main inhabitants of Wood Buffalo are American bison, for the sake of preserving the population, of which the protected area was created. These massive animals are somewhat similar in appearance to the European bison. Bison weigh about a ton, their body reaches three meters in length and two meters in height. Biologists distinguish steppe and forest subspecies of the animal; both of them are represented in the park and, largely thanks to the protection of Wood Buffalo, still live on our planet. At the time of the creation of the national park, which was 1922, the number of forest bison was not more than one and a half thousand; today the herd reaches 2.5 thousand individuals and is recognized as the largest on the mainland. The number of steppe bison is significantly larger than forest bison and reached the limit of 10 thousand animals back in the 1960s.

The special nature of Wood Buffalo was the reason for its inclusion in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which occurred in 1983 and influenced the travel of tourists to these places. However, getting to the national park is not so easy. First you need to fly to the Canadian city of Edmonton, then take a charter flight or car to either Fort Chipuyan, in the province of Alberta, or to the city of Fort Smith, in the province of the Northwest Territories, which provide access to protected areas. Fort Smith, where Wood Buffalo National Park is located, is accessible via the McKenzie Highway, while Fort Chipuyan, where the main office is located, is accessible highway no, only by air.

Thinking through tourist trip to the park, it must be borne in mind that there are almost no roads in Wood Buffalo. There is only one car route for excursions in the protected area, and large number rules for driving a car, violation of which is subject to hefty fines. To compensate for this, there are many walking routes to suit every taste. If you wish, use short paths or choose complex, long hiking trails that require some experience. The likelihood of a close encounter with predators (wolves, lynxes) is minimal, since they are by nature cautious and shy away from human society.

In Canada, tourists are allowed boat trips on large rivers. By renting a regular boat or canoe in Fort Smith, you can sail to Fort Chipuyan, Fort McMurray, or Fort Fitzgerald and enjoy beautiful views Wood Buffalo from an unusual angle.

Those wishing to explore natural attractions for several days can stay in the towns that are adjacent to the national park - Fort Smith, Hay River, Yellowknife and Fort Simpson. Local residents are very happy to rent out a room or house; camping sites or hotel rooms are also acceptable. The campsite is under the authority of Wood Buffalo, which provides parking permits.

The wonder of Canadian nature is Wood Buffalo National Park. Read what Wood Buffalo is famous for in today's article.

What is Wood Buffalo famous for?

Canadian lands national park, stretching from Alberta to the Northwest Territories of Canada, Wood Buffalo founded in 1922. Today Wood Buffalo is the largest park in Canada and one of the largest national parks in the world.

• The area of ​​Wood Buffalo Park in Canada is about 4.4 million hectares.

A visit to Wood Buffalo should definitely be on your list of places to see and die, as is Yellowstone National Park in the USA . Through the expanses of the magnificent, large-scale natural complex bison of the steppe and forest species- the last representatives on the planet. Wood Buffalo is famous as one of the world heritage sites, included by UNESCO in 1983.

History of Wood Buffalo National Park

The national park was opened in 1922 to preserve the shaggy bison population.. At the time of the creation of the park, there were up to 2,500 animals, but by 1960 the population had increased to 10 thousand. After 1983, Wood Buffalo Park lives on active tourism and patronage programs.

Location

Wood Buffalo stretches across the northwestern part of the country, between Lake Athabesca and Great Slave Lake. The administrative location of the park lies in the vicinity of Alberta and Mackenzie. Basically, the entire territory of Wood Buffalo is forested land, sometimes swampy plains, rivers, clear blue lakes and tundra groups of trees.

• In Wood Buffalo Park, the inland delta of the Athabasca and Peace Rivers formed, which flow into Lake Athabesca - it is one of the largest inland deltas in the world.

You can get to Wood Buffalo from Fort Smith or Fort Chipuyan. First you need to fly to Edmonton in Canada, then choose to get to the proposed cities. From Fort Smith you can easily get to the park along the McKenzie Highway, but for fans of air travel, the road from Fort Chipuyan will be more pleasant - there is no highway here.

Wood Buffalo Park is a huge area without roads. For hiking and returning to the wild, excursion tours are offered, which must be arranged in advance with the management. Everyone who arrives at the park is registered, then he is offered a route and a guide. Hiking trails are conditional markings. Most of the territories are inhabited by predators - lynxes and wolves.

• What animals can you find: caribou, white-tailed deer, bison, musk rat, bear, moose, porcupine, skunk, crane, lynx, wolf, etc.

Although the possibility of meeting them is minimal, it is still necessary to be on the safe side. Wood Buffalo - for real "lungs of Canada" Huge territories coniferous forests maintain a cool climate at any time of the year. You can enjoy the echoes of primeval nature at the camping sites. Wood Buffalo Park is a great place to visit with family or friends. It works all year round and pleases with its non-static beauty - each new natural season leaves an indelible impression.

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We will meet natural features one of Canada's nature reserves. Let's find out how ecotourism is developing in national park Wood Buffalo.

In two largest provinces Canada's Alberta and Northwest Territories are home to the picturesque Wood Buffalo National Park. It is located between the two lakes Bolshoye Nevolnichye and Athabasca, occupying an area of ​​44 thousand square kilometers. The park is protected by the state and UNESCO, so any violations here are punishable by law.

Wood Buffalo - natural features

Wood Buffalo has a fairly cold climate, so there are more travelers here in the spring and summer. But this period lasts only a few months, although in other seasons the national park amazes with its beauty and charm.

Wood Buffalo Park area

Eagle owl - another inhabitant of Wood Buffalo

The entire territory of the Wood Buffalo Nature Reserve is covered with conifers and mixed forests, meadows, plains, tundras. Lakes and rivers flow through the area, the largest of which are the Athabasca and Peace Rivers. Together they form a fairly large delta, which is located near Lake Athabasca. Unlike the park, not a single road passes through the park. That's why they were created here favorable conditions for breeding bison. To preserve their population, the park was built. Now the number of individuals reaches 2.5 thousand.

Found in forests and plains reindeer, caribou, beavers, pelicans, a type of whooping crane.

Eco-tourism in Wood Buffalo

Despite the cool climate, tourists flock to Wood Buffalo throughout the year. There are many trails here that differ in length and complexity of passages. Usually these are convenient and short trails, as well as difficult and multi-day routes. Each of the trails passes through pristine nature, allowing you to see rare species animals, enjoy panoramic views. But the routes bypass bird nesting areas so as not to interfere with their development and increase in population.

Families come to the reserve's campsites to relax.

In addition to hiking, travelers have the opportunity to go boating and canoeing. Usually water routes pass along such rivers as the Atabska, Quatre Forches, Peace River, and Slave. You can swim along them to settlements located on the shores of the straits - Fort Chipuyani, Fort McMurray, Fort Fitzgerald.

One of the most visited places is beaver dam, located in the south of the park. Scientists have been studying this structure for many years, since the length of such crossings is only 10 to 100 meters.

Wood Buffalo is the largest national park in Canada, covering large territory than Switzerland. It spreads across the northeastern part of Alberta and goes deep into southern part Northwest Territories.

Wood Buffalo National Park is home to some of the last remaining free-ranging bison herds in the world, a nesting site for the endangered whooping crane, and has the world's largest beaver dams. Thanks to all this, he was listed World Heritage UNESCO.

Facts

• Migration route. In the southern part of the park is one of the largest freshwater deltas in the world - the Peace Athabasca. All four North American migratory routes converge on the delta each spring and fall, and the last remaining flock of migratory whooping cranes nests in a remote corner of the taiga each summer.
• Protected area. In 1982, the International Union for Conservation of Nature designated Wood Buffalo National Park a protected area to protect the Peace-Athabasca Delta and the nesting grounds of the whooping crane. These two areas have been designated as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention, which focuses on identifying and protecting critical habitat for migratory birds.
• Scenery. The park's diverse landscape includes boreal forests, salt flats, and various karst landforms. The boreal plains near Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories are the most accessible and popular within the park.
• Wildlife. Wood Buffalo is home to such elusive species as black bears, wolves, moose, foxes, beavers and sandhill cranes.
• River country. The Slave, Peace and Athabasca rivers flow through the park, providing great opportunities for hiking and camping.

Wood Buffalo is a national park in the provinces of Alberta and Northwest Territories, Canada. Founded in 1983. It is Canada's largest national park, covering an area of ​​44,807 km2. Within the boundaries of the park there are wooded plateaus covered with scars. forest fires, a plateau eroded by glaciers, a significant freshwater delta formed by three largest rivers, salt flats and best samples karst relief North America. It also includes the most extensive North America pristine grass and sedge prairies creating best conditions bison habitat. The park has a long tradition of using natural livelihoods. It was settled more recently, as the glaciers receded, by nomadic groups of Mikesu-Cree First Nations, some of whom continue to hunt, snare and fish here. The climate is characterized by one of the longest and coldest winters and short, warm summer, reservoirs are ice-free only in June, July and August.

The 47 species of mammals found here include caribou, arctic fox, black bear, moose, beaver and muskrat, and 227 species of birds have been recorded, including falcon, bald eagle, great gray owl and snowy owl. The reserve is also known for the fact that its territory is home to the largest wild herd of American bison on the continent (about 2,500 animals). The whooping crane population is approximately 140 individuals, of which 40 pairs are breeding. This is an amazingly beautiful bird, snow-white, 1.5 m in height, wingspan - 2.6 m. Twice a year these fairy birds overcome full of dangers a 4,300 km journey to winter quarters in Texas. Back in 1941, there were only 15 whooping cranes left.

There are 36 sites intended for camping on the camp territory. Several of them are located on Pine Lake (60 km from Fort Smith), the most extensive is Kettle Point Group Camp, it is intended for large groups tourists. A place at this campsite must be reserved in advance. If you need to organize overnight parking in the park, you must obtain permission from the Wood Buffalo administration.

Wood Buffalo is open to visitors all year round, and each season has its own charms. The park has many hiking trails of varying lengths and complexity, from very short walking trails to long and complex ones. Almost any trail allows you to see the indescribable beauty around you. surrounding nature. Since wild animals behave very carefully in nature, the likelihood of encountering them during a walk is very small, but from a distance you can see a lot of interesting things. The park is interesting not only for travelers, but also for serious researchers wildlife. Thus, in Wood Buffalo Park, in its southern part, the world's longest beaver dam was discovered, its length is about 850 meters (usually 10-100 meters). A lot of interesting materials on the development of the region and the protection of the region’s wildlife can be seen in the collection of the Fort Smith Museum. In Fort Smith, you can rent a boat or canoe and take the Wood Buffalo Waterway to Fort Fitzgerald, Fort McMurray, Fort Chipuyani. On big rivers, such as Athabasca River, Quatre Forces River, Peace River, Slave River, motor boats are allowed.