Saltery Bay Provincial Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

Mermaid Cove

The Saltery Bay Provincial Park is a 69 hectare Provincial Park in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The park is located on the Sunshine Coast, about 1 km north of the ferry dock Saltery Bay Ferry Terminal of BC Ferries and about 27 south of Powell River. It is bordered by Highway 101

Plant

The small park is situated on the Strait of Georgia. The park consists of the spatially separate camping area and picnic area. The park also has a sailing off the coast lying diving area. In the park is a protected area category II (National Park).

History

The park was established in 1962 and named after a fish factory, located at the turn of the century in the vicinity.

As with almost all provincial parks in British Columbia 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. Mountains of shells also show that this was a traditional gathering place for the First Nations.

Flora and Fauna

The park is located in the temperate rainforest and the climate here confirms her name. The area is considered the wettest section of the Sunshine Coast. Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, the park area is allocated within the Coastal Douglas Fir zone of the Wet Subzone. 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.

Here grows next to the Douglas fir and the Nootka cypress mainly the Western Hemlock ( in the English language "Coastal Western Hemlock " called ). The trees are covered with epiphytic lichens and mosses. The forest also has an understory of sword fern and ericaceous. The spread in many parts of the province of Pacific Dogwood blossoms, the coat of arms plant of British Columbia, is also found here.

The tidal range of the Strait of Georgia is here usually between 1 meter and 5 meters. At low tide it is possible to see at the beach mussel beds and other marine creatures. The mussels and fish lure ospreys and bald eagles. Since the area is sparsely populated, here are also black bears.

Activities

A special tourist attraction is the diving area " Mermaid Cove " there. There is around 18 meters depth about a 3 -foot statue of a mermaid in bronze. Also found in the area underwater caves and shipwrecks.

The park has 42 partially reservable, pitches for caravans and tents and has a sanitary system.