Brandywine Falls Provincial Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

Brandywine Falls

The Brandywine Falls Provincial Park is a 420 -hectare Provincial Park in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The park is located about 47 kilometers north of Squamish and about 18 kilometers south of Whistler. From Vancouver, the park via Highway 99 (Sea- to-Sky Highway) is reached. The park is located in the Squamish - Lillooet Regional District.

Plant

The park is situated in the transitional area between the Sunshine Coast and the Coast Mountains. It is cut on the western edge of Highway 99, as well as in the northern part of a railway line. The eastern border of the park is formed by the Cheakamus River. The southern boundary of the park is because the banks of the Daisy Lake. In the park is a protected area category II (National Park).

The park takes its name from the waterfall. The waterfall is formed by the 66 meter cascading waters of the Brandywine Creek. The Brandywine Creek has its origin in the Powder Mountain Icefield and crashes in the park on a cliff edge which is formed from solidified basalt lava flows. At least four basaltic lava flows, at the age of 34,000 years include the walls of the canyon of the Brandywine Falls. These streams are part of the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt.

History

The park was established in 1973.

According to a local story of the Brandywine Creek takes its name afterwards, the two surveyors of Howe Sound and Northern Railway have bet a bottle of brandy in terms of the height of the waterfall.

As with almost all provincial parks in British Columbia, however, also applies to this, he, hunting and fishing territory of different tribes of First Nations was long before the area populated by immigrants or she was part of a park.

Flora and Fauna

At the transition between Sunshine Coast and Coast Mountain Park in the prevailing climate is that of the temperate rainforest. Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, he is the Coastal Western Hemlock zone assigned. Within the park are the most widespread, the zone of their name -giving, Western Hemlock and the Giant Tree of Life and the Oregon maple. Above the fold, there are also stocks of lodgepole pine.

The area is ( such as large parts of Canada ) only sparsely populated; in the surrounding area also live black bear, hoary marmots and chipmunks. Golden Eagle, Rotschwanzbussarde live or come to search for prey in the park. Fish found in the Brandywine Creek just below the falls. On 5 August 2005 plunged the Canadian National Railway tank cars loaded with sodium hydroxide into the Cheakamus River; about 500,000 fish died.

Activities

The park is a popular destination for hikers, climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts in the summer. The trails in the park are connected to a network, which connect Squamish and Whistler. Are located on these trails are also various vantage points with views of the waterfall, or even further down the Brandywine Creek with views of Daisy Lake. Also located in the northeast corner of the park still a small lake, the Lake Swim, with a picnic area. This, however, is not accessible by vehicles.

In the winter, can be found in the park a marked but not groomed, trails for cross country skiing. This popular cross- country ski run is used each year of several thousand runners.