Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

The eponymous rapids of the park

The Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park is a 123 -hectare Provincial Park in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located on the Sunshine Coast, about 7 kilometers east of Earls Cove Ferry Terminal on the road to the village of Egmont. The park is located in the Sunshine Coast Regional District.

Plant

In the park is a protected area category II (National Park). The park is located at the transition between the Jervis Inelt and the Sechelt Inlet. This transition then forms the eponymous Skookumchuck Narrows. The park was created to protect these rapids. The rapids here are usually a tidal range between 2 meters and 5 meters. Where the water level in Sechelt Inlet 1 to 2 feet below the water level is normally before the rapids.

Also, the park has a small lake, the Brown Lake.

History

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. Already these named the rapids. Skookumchuck is a word in the language Chinook Wawa, which is composed of skookum for strong, powerful, fierce and chuck for water. The use of the area by First Nations is also confirmed by two archaeological sites.

At its founding in 1957, the park was only 40.5 hectares. Enhancements over time he grew to its present size.

Flora and Fauna

The park is located in the sphere of temperate rainforest. Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, this area of the Dry Maritime subzone of the Coastal Western Hemlock 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. Here grows next to the Douglas fir, the Nootka cypress, the Western Hemlock, the purple - fir and alder and maple. The trees here in the park no longer part by past forestry industry use the original vegetation of the area, therefore it is called secondary forest. Thus, they are not, how else spread in temperate rainforest very, covered with epiphytic lichens and mosses. However, the forest has also an understory of sword ferns and heather plants. The spread in many parts of the province of Pacific Dogwood blossoms, the coat of arms plant of British Columbia, can be found as well.

Represented at fishing here is also the Pacific salmon, mainly with the subspecies Silver Salmon ( Coho Salmon engl. ) and chum salmon (English Chum Salmon). The fish lure ospreys and bald eagles. The only sparsely populated hinterland of the park, there are also black bears, bobcats, and cougars. Also many bird species in the park area. Among them is of course also the national bird of British Columbia, the Steller.

A special feature of the Brown Lake. He is not only the home for the usual in this region, fish and waterfowl, such as the common loon, but it can be found here also a population of turtles.

Activities

The tourist attraction of the park are the rapids; they are very popular with whitewater athletes. Due to the relatively high flow rate only experienced water sports enthusiasts, however, should dare to tackle the rapids.

The park has neither a picnic area even a camping area. Near the rapids can be found, however, a very simple equipped sanitary facilities.