Every country has many national parks, but some are immensely important to the respective country. In this article, let us look at some of the important national parks in Canada.
Know about National Parks in Canada (Photo credit: parks.canada.ca)
New Delhi: Canada has over 30 national parks and ten reserves. These represent 31 of Canada’s terrestrial natural regions that protect approximately 336,343 square kilometres of the country’s lands. These national parks and reserves are located in every province and territory, ranging from mountains to plains. These national parks are protected areas under the Canada National Parks Act, which the Government of Canada owns. The national parks are administered by Parks Canada – which is a Crown agency operating under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
In this article, we look at Canada’s top 6 national parks.
List of national parks in Canada
- Banff – Alberta
- Akami-Uapishk-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains – Newfoundland and Labrador
- Bruce Peninsula – Ontario
- Elk Island – Alberta
- Fundy – New Brunswick
- Gros Morne – Newfoundland and Labrador
Banff (Alberta)
It is the first park established by the Government of Canada. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, and adjacent to Kootenay, Yoho, and Jasper National Parks.
Akami-Uapishk-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains (Newfoundland and Labrador)
The park has a portion of the glacially-rounded Mealy Mountains on Labrador from Lake Melville to Sandwich Bay. It also includes some sandy beaches along the coast of the Labrador Sea.
Bruce Peninsula (Ontario)
The Bruce Peninsula, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, was formed from lands previously designated Ontario’s Cyprus Lake Provincial Park. Bruce has a unique shoreline formation of the Niagara Escarpment and is formed as part of the larger UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.
Elk Island (Alberta)
Elk Island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve created as an elk wildlife sanctuary. The national park is part of bison conservation, the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve and the Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve. Between 1947 and 1948, around 18 moose from Elk Island were introduced to Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Fundy (New Brunswick)
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Fundy features the highest tides in the world. It was created on April 10, 1946, and the park showcases a rugged coastline which rises to the Canadian Highlands. The Fundy National Park covers an area of 207 km2.
Gros Morne (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Gros Morne National Park is a World Heritage Site and, due to its exposed mantle and crust, is an example of plate tectonics.
Follow us on social media
