Strathcona Provincial Park

Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia British Columbia

British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of [[Canada|Canada's]...

, Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ...

, and the largest on Vancouver Island Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is located off Canada [i]'s Pacific [i] coast and is part of the Canadian province [i] ...

. Founded in 1911, the park was named for Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal

Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, GCMG [i] ...

, a wealthy philanthropist and railroad pioneer.

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Encyclopedia

Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia British Columbia

British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of [[Canada|Canada's]...

, Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ...

, and the largest on Vancouver Island Vancouver Island

Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, GCMG [i]...

, a wealthy philanthropist and railroad pioneer.

Geography

At almost 2,500 square kilometres in area, Strathcona Park is the largest park on Vancouver Island, occupying much of the island's mountainous interior.

The park's terrain is mountainous and rugged; many of the island's highest peaks are found in the park. Some notable mountains located within the park boundaries include:

The Golden Hinde
Elkhorn Mountain
Mount Colonel Foster
Mount Albert Edward

Strathcona Park is also known for its lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers. Buttle Lake is a popular destination for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Also located in the park is Della Falls which, at 440 m in height, is widely considered the highest waterfall in Canada.

Recreation

The park is a popular destination for hikers and mountain climbers, as well as swimmers, canoeists, and kayakers. There is an extensive network of hiking trails in the park; visitor facilities are located at Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau Forbidden Plateau

The Forbidden Plateau is a small, hilly plateau [i] in the east of the Vancouver Island Ranges [i] in British Columbia [i] ...

.

Conservation

Sub-alpine ecosystem: Western Redcedar Thuja plicata

Thuja plicata is a species of thuja [i], an evergreen [i] coniferous [i] tree [i] in the c...

, Douglas Fir Douglas-fir

Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous [i] tree [i]s of the genus [i] Pseudots ...

, Grand Fir Grand Fir

Grand Fir or Giant Fir is a fir [i] native to the Pacific Northwest [i] of North America [i], occu ...

, Amabilis Fir Pacific Silver Fir

Pacific Silver Fir is a fir [i] native to the Pacific Northwest [i] of North America [i], occurring in t ...

, Western Hemlock Western Hemlock

The Western Hemlock is a large evergreen [i] coniferous [i] tree [i] growing to 50-70 m tall, ...

, Mountain Hemlock Mountain Hemlock

The Mountain Hemlock is a large evergreen [i] coniferous [i] tree [i] growing to 20-40 m tall, ...

and creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis

Juniperus horizontalis is a low-growing shrub [i]by juniper [i] native to northern North America [i] ...
Wildlife: Roosevelt elk Red Deer

Red Deer, known as elk or wapiti in North America [i], are the second largest species of deer [i] ...

, Vancouver Island Marmot, Vancouver Island wolf Gray Wolf

The Gray Wolf is a mammal [i] in the order Carnivora [i]. ...

, and the coastal Black-tailed Deer Black-tailed Deer

The Black-tailed deer is a species of deer [i] found in western North America [i].

...

Birds: Chestnut-backed Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Parus rufescens, is found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States [i] ...

, Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch

The Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, is a small songbird [i].

...

, Winter Wren Winter Wren

The Winter Wren is a very small bird [i], a member of the mainly New World [i] wren [i] family Troglodytidae [i] ...

and kinglet Kinglet

The kinglets or crests are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warbler [i]s, bu ...

, Gray Jay Gray Jay

The Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis, is a medium-sized jay [i].
...

, Steller's Jay Steller's Jay

The Steller's Jay is a jay [i] of western North America [i], closely related to the Blue Jay [i] found i ...

, Blue Grouse Blue Grouse

"Blue Grouse" is an archaic name for the union of Dusky Grouse [i] and Sooty Grouse [i] as one species. ...

, Ruffed Grouse Ruffed Grouse

The Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, is a medium-sized grouse [i].
...

and White-tailed Ptarmigan White-tailed Ptarmigan

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is the smallest bird [i] in the grouse [i] family. ...