Gowlland Tod Provincial Park
IUCN Category II - National Park
Saanich Inlet from a mountain in the park
The Gowlland death Provincial Park is a 1,280 -hectare Provincial Park in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located about 20 kilometers northwest of Victoria on the east coast of Vancouver Island and can be reached via Highway 17A or alternatively via the Trans-Canada Highway. The park is located in the Capital Regional District.
Plant
The park lies at Finlayson Arm and the death Inlet, both of which flow into the Saanich Inlet and then into the Strait of Georgia. The main part of the park this takes place as about 1 to 2 kilometers wide and about 6 km long strip on Finlayson Arm along. At the northern end of the park then a narrow strip connects this main part and narrow largely encloses the part of the park of the death Inlet. The park includes a portion of the Mountain range of Gowlland Range. The park area consists of 955 ha and 325 ha mainland intertidal zone.
The Jocelyn Hill is 434 m, the highest point in the park.
In the park is a protected area category II (National Park).
History
The park was established in 1993. The park was named range and the death Inlet to the mountains Gowlland. The park was then named because it is intended to protect important parts of this relatively well-preserved ecosystems. Finally, the park boundaries would be redrawn in 2012 and it changed the size of the park.
As with almost all provincial parks in British Columbia but 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. The name of the Saanich Peninsula, located at the southern boundary of the park, goes back to the resident coastal Salish Indians who Saanich. From them can be found in the park at various points archaeological artifacts.
Flora and Fauna
The park is located in the temperate rainforest. Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, it is assigned to the Dry Maritime subzone of the Coastal Douglas - fir zone. After the last of forest use and reforestation grow here now mainly Douglas fir, western hemlock American, giant trees of life, Oregon oaks and coastal pines. Also on this side of the bay can be found, as in across the street Bamberton Provincial Park, some of the American arbutus. The forest here has an understory of mahonias, broom and bearberry. In the undergrowth also Nuttall's flowering dogwood can also find Pacific Dogwood Blossoms called ( engl. Pacific dogwood ), the coat of arms plant of British Columbia. The tidal range of the Strait of Georgia continues also in the Saanich Inlet. Even at the end of the bay, at Finlayson Arm, he is usually still about 3 feet. The resulting tidal zone is rich in marine life. At low tide it is possible to see at the beach mussel beds and other marine creatures. The fish lure ospreys and bald eagles. The park can be next to the Steller (English Stellar 's Jay ), the national bird of British Columbia, observe numerous other birds. Particularly numerous here is the Egret Canada to see and also a subspecies of the Peregrine, Falco peregrinus pealei of, can be observed. Represented are also a variety of small mammals and rodents like the rare North American river otters or the widespread common red squirrel. According to the Park Administration occur in the field in front of about 150 different plant and animal species.
Activities
Like all other large suburban parks and this is very popular with the population. The tourist attractions of the park make for one of the park in the northern- territory beach McKenzie Bight and its intertidal dar. Here also there is a diving area. Secondly, the Located in the southern area of the park picnic area Caleb Pike is very popular. North of the death Inlet is a second picnic zone Wallace Drive. In addition, the park is covered by a more than 25 -kilometer network of numerous paths and thereby also with walkers and riders on some routes may be ridden, very popular.
The park has no camping area.