Tag Archives: Parks

Commentary, nature, Photography

Wood Buffalo National Park

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The correct name for the animals is “bison,” but the park’s official name hasn’t been changed yet.

This park was established in 1922 to protect the seriously dwindling bison herds but also became invaluable to protecting the whooping cranes, as well.

At just under 45,000 km², Wood Buffalo is the largest national park in Canada and the second largest in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2013, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated it as the world’s largest dark sky preserve to protect the habitat of bats and other night-time animals and also to ensure the visibility of the Aurora Borealis.

There’s lots of hiking and camping, including back country camping sites and many kilometres of day hiking trails available.

Happy Sunday.

nature, Photography

Whooping Cranes

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Whooping cranes migrate between the southern edge of the Northwest Territories and Texas. They travel a very long way!

These birds are often difficult to photograph as they are very shy and possessed of excellent hearing, so they are usually gone before you know they have been nearby. Generally, they just are not very gregarious; they like to keep to themselves in their pair bonds. Their nests are about five kilometres (three miles) apart from those of other cranes.

There are only about 500 whooping cranes in the wild, they migrate each year between wintering grounds at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and their breeding grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park near Fort Smith, NWT.

Their numbers are very slowly improving after dropping to about 25 birds in the 1940s; their survival and growth has been helped along by protections that exist in both Northwest Territories and Texas.

Happy mid-week.

musings, nature, Photography

May 17’s Monday Marvellous

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I feel like publishing photos of home right now as I’m quite wistful for it.

Skaha Park with Skaha Lake through the trees. My home is close by.

Here in Northwest Territories, it has been a very long, long winter, literally, and although the record-breaking amount of snow we had has melted, the temperature hasn’t gone up much.

There’s been a lot of rain, too, and now there’s flooding in some areas.

With the addition of all the COVID anxieties and concerns, the last 15 months have been challenging.

I am looking forward to a break, at home, soon.

Happy Monday, happy week. 🙂

nature, Photography

Prosperous Lake Park

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Under sunny skies on the weekend, M and I went to Prosperous Lake Park just outside of Yellowknife.

Prosperous Lake Territorial Park

We crossed the lake itself via a very busy ice road, a total of 14 km.

Tire tracks on the frozen lake surface.

There was an ice fishing derby going on, which is why it was so busy. People were fishing, yes, but there were lots of snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Dogs and kids were running around and chasing each other, very much enjoying the bright sun and warmer temperatures.

Want to see an ice road?

Here’s a short clip of our trip across the lake.

It was a great day; sunny, warmer, windless. We returned home very happy after all the fresh air and bright light.

Happy mid-week. 🙂

Commentary, musings, nature, Photography

Jasper National Park

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Alberta’s Jasper National Park is the largest park in the Rocky Mountains and was established in 1907.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Dark Sky Preserve and was also the backdrop for a Marilyn Monroe movie, “River of No Return.” It has one of my favourite hotels as well – Jasper Park Lodge.

If you like to hike, walk, kayak, canoe or just watch the animals, Jasper is wonderful. Loads of trails, lakes and rivers, and, of course, there are hot springs in which to relax those tired muscles after a good day of exercise amidst gorgeous scenery.

Greetings from beautiful Jasper Park. 🙂