Saskatoon Island Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Saskatoon Island Provincial Park is a provincial park
located in northern Alberta
, Canada
. It is located 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) west of Grande Prairie
in the Peace River Country
, on the southern shore of Saskatoon Lake
.
natives used to pick saskatoon berries to use in pemmican
.
The island merged to the adjacent plains when the water level dropped in 1919, and the lake was divided in two sections.
A settlement was established on the north side of the lake. The community of Lake Saskatoon was incorporated as a village in 1912. It was eventually abandoned after 1924, when the Grande Prairie-Grande Cache Railway missed the settlememnt by 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) when it was constructed on a more southern route through Wembley
instead.
A provincial park was created on the spit of land dividing the two parts of the lake. It was established on November 21, 1932.
The area was declared a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1948.
.
The lake and surrounding shrubland and aspen parkland
are home to a variety of bird species such as tundra swans, Canada geese
and northern harriers. Mammals are also present in the park and surrounding areas, species observed include moose
, snowshoe hare
s, weasel
s, groundhog
s, muskrat
s, beaver
s, deer
and coyote
s.
The Saskatoon Lake is home to Brook stickleback
, brook trout
and rainbow trout
.
Camping is offered year round, with 103 unit campground and 55 electrical hook-ups, including 3 paved and powered camp sites with washrooms and showers. A day use area with fire pits, picnic tables and basic facilities is maintained on the lake shore.
A boat ramp is maintained on the northern side of the park. Saskatoon berries are ripe in early summer.
Cross-country skiing
is practiced in the park, with 6.4 kilometres (4 mi) of trails groomed in the winter for skiing, and for cycling
in summer. 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi) of hiking
trails are maintained on the former island, including 1.2 kilometre (0.745647283979768 mi) wheelchair-accessible trails.
A yearly swan festival in organized in the park each April by the Friends of Saskatoon Island Cooperating Association. It celebrates the spring migration of the trumpeter swan
.
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
located in northern Alberta
Northern Alberta
Northern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Its primary industry is oil and gas, with large heavy oil reserves being exploited at the Athabasca Oil Sands and Wabasca Area in the east of the region...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) west of Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...
in the Peace River Country
Peace River Country
The Peace River Country is an aspen parkland region around the Peace River in Canada. It spans from northwestern Alberta to the Rocky Mountains in northeastern British Columbia, where the region is also referred to as the Peace River Block.- Geography :The Peace River Country includes the...
, on the southern shore of Saskatoon Lake
Saskatoon Lake (Alberta)
Saskatoon Lake is a lake in Alberta.Saskatoon Island Provincial Park is located on a former island of the lake, which now connects the western and eastern shores following a drop in the lake's water level....
.
History
The park takes its name form a large island that used to be in the middle of the lake, where CreeCree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
natives used to pick saskatoon berries to use in pemmican
Pemmican
Pemmican is a concentrated mixture of fat and protein used as a nutritious food. The word comes from the Cree word pimîhkân, which itself is derived from the word pimî, "fat, grease". It was invented by the native peoples of North America...
.
The island merged to the adjacent plains when the water level dropped in 1919, and the lake was divided in two sections.
A settlement was established on the north side of the lake. The community of Lake Saskatoon was incorporated as a village in 1912. It was eventually abandoned after 1924, when the Grande Prairie-Grande Cache Railway missed the settlememnt by 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) when it was constructed on a more southern route through Wembley
Wembley, Alberta
Wembley is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located west of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 43 and Highway 724. A resident of Wembley is known as a "Wemblian", or "Wembleyite".-Demographics:In 2001, the town population was 1,542....
instead.
A provincial park was created on the spit of land dividing the two parts of the lake. It was established on November 21, 1932.
The area was declared a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1948.
Conservation
The park is a federal migratory bird sanctuary as part of the Grande Prairie Important Bird Area, hosting (together with the nearby Bear Lake) the threatened trumpeter swanTrumpeter Swan
The Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator, is the largest native North American bird, if measured in terms of weight and length, and is the largest living waterfowl species on earth. It is the North American counterpart of the European Whooper Swan.-Description:Males typically measure from and weigh...
.
The lake and surrounding shrubland and aspen parkland
Aspen parkland
Aspen parkland refers to a very large area of transitional biome between prairie and boreal forest in two sections; the Peace River Country of northwestern Alberta crossing the border into British Columbia, and a much larger area stretching from central Alberta, all across central Saskatchewan to...
are home to a variety of bird species such as tundra swans, Canada geese
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
and northern harriers. Mammals are also present in the park and surrounding areas, species observed include moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, snowshoe hare
Snowshoe Hare
The Snowshoe Hare , also called the Varying Hare, or Snowshoe Rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet and the marks its tail leaves. The animal's feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks...
s, weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
s, groundhog
Groundhog
The groundhog , also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but...
s, muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
s, beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s, deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
and coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
s.
The Saskatoon Lake is home to Brook stickleback
Stickleback
The Gasterosteidae are a family of fish including the sticklebacks. FishBase currently recognises sixteen species in the family, grouped in five genera. However several of the species have a number of recognised subspecies, and the taxonomy of the family is thought to be in need of revision...
, brook trout
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
and rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
.
Recreation
The park offers year round camping, boating, swimming, berry picking and wildlife viewing.Camping is offered year round, with 103 unit campground and 55 electrical hook-ups, including 3 paved and powered camp sites with washrooms and showers. A day use area with fire pits, picnic tables and basic facilities is maintained on the lake shore.
A boat ramp is maintained on the northern side of the park. Saskatoon berries are ripe in early summer.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
is practiced in the park, with 6.4 kilometres (4 mi) of trails groomed in the winter for skiing, and for cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
in summer. 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi) of hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails are maintained on the former island, including 1.2 kilometre (0.745647283979768 mi) wheelchair-accessible trails.
A yearly swan festival in organized in the park each April by the Friends of Saskatoon Island Cooperating Association. It celebrates the spring migration of the trumpeter swan
Trumpeter Swan
The Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator, is the largest native North American bird, if measured in terms of weight and length, and is the largest living waterfowl species on earth. It is the North American counterpart of the European Whooper Swan.-Description:Males typically measure from and weigh...
.
External links
- Alberta Community Development. Saskatoon Island Provincial Park