Sproat Lake Provincial Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

Petroglyphs at Sproat Lake

The Sproat Lake Provincial Park is a 43 hectare Provincial Park in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The park is located relatively in the center of Vancouver Iceland, about 10 kilometers west of Port Alberni. It lies just off Highway 4, which connects the east and the west coast of the island.

Plant

The Canadian standards for relatively small park is located on the north side of Sproat Lake. The park is here intersected by Highway 4. The larger of the two campgrounds and also the two picnic areas located directly on the lake, while the smaller camping area is separated by the highway from the lake and the sanitary facilities located there. In the park is a protected area category II (National Park).

History

Before the area was a park, it was called Smith 's Landing and was a by George Smith, a resident farmer, called a recreation area. The park was the province of British Columbia then, today Weyerhaeuser transferred from the timber company, MacMillan Bloedel, in 1966.

The eponymous for the new park lake was named after one of the early settlers and businessmen. Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, Vancouver reached Iceland in 1860 and built on the nearby Alberni Canal a sawmill.

However, also applies to this park, which he already was long before the area populated by immigrants or she was part of a park, the traditional hunting and fishing territory of different tribes of First Nations. Very impressive, this can be proven by discovered lakeside petroglyphs. Precise about the importance of " K'ak'awin " said character is unknown.

Flora and Fauna

Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, the park area of the Coastal Douglas Fir zone is assigned. This Biogeoklimatischen zones are characterized by a respective same climate and the same or similar biological and geological conditions. This results in the respective zones then a very similar inventory of plants and animals.

In the park area grows mainly Douglas fir, but also the giant tree of life. In the Waterside area of the park waächst also the sugar maple. The forest has an understory of ferns and heather plants. Here the Shallon bill berry, raspberry splendor, the Ordinary Oregon grape and the Silky Dogwood grow. We also find the Pacific Dogwood blooms here. This protected plant is also found in the coat of arms of British Columbia again.

On account of the size of the park here, there are mainly small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and fish. From the surrounding areas migrate mainly in winter and larger animals such as the elk, most notably the Roosevelt Elk or the black bear through the park. From the birdlife including the Steller or the collar choke occur. In the lake are mainly rainbow trout ( distinguished both as stationary as well as hiking anadromous form in English as Rainbow Trout and Steelhead Trout ) and Cutthroatforellen.

Activities

The lake in the population, not just the Port Alberni, very popular and is used as a recreational area. The lake is next to boating and water-skiing and windsurfing common. Also abundantly Houseboats find on the lake

The lake is known for its freshwater fishing in the spring, autumn and winter and popular with anglers.

A special tourist attraction make stationed at the lake water bomber type Martin Mars represents the basis of the company that runs immediately adjacent to the park and can be visited.

The park has on its 2 tent sites 44 and 15 pitches for caravans and tents and has a sanitary facility with shower.