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Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, approximately 500 km (311 mi) west of Yellowknife, protects a portion of the Mackenzie Mountains Natural Region. The centrepiece of the park is the South Nahanni River. Four great canyons, called First, Second, Third and Fourth Canyon, line this spectacular whitewater river. The name Nahanni comes from the indigenous Dene language and can be translated as 'spirit.'

Virginia Falls

At Virginia Falls, the river plunges 90 m (295 ft) in a thunderous plume. It is more than twice the height of Niagara Falls. In the centre of the falls is a dramatic spire of resistant rock, called Mason's Rock after Bill Mason, the famous Canadian canoeist, author, and filmmaker. The area around the falls is home to several rare orchid species. There is a proposal to rename the falls after former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau. Aside from the falls, there are many notable rapids on the river including Figure Eight, George's Riffle, and Lafferty's Riffle.

Flora and fauna

The park's sulphur hot springs, alpine tundra, mountain ranges, and forests of spruce and aspen are home to many species of birds, fish and mammals. At Rabbitkettle Hotsprings can be found the largest tufa mounds in Canada with the North Mound being 30 m (98 ft) high, 60 m (197 ft) wide and an estimated 10,000 years old. The park lies within three of Canada's ecozones, the Taiga Cordillera in the west, the Taiga Plains in the east and a small southern portion in the Boreal Cordillera.

A visitor centre in Fort Simpson features displays on the history, culture and geography of the area. The park was among the world's first four natural heritage locations to be inscribed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1978.

History

Originally established in 1972, by then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the park was 4,766 km (1,840 sq mi) in area. In 2003, an agreement between the Dehcho First Nations and Parks Canada gave temporary protection to 23,000 km (8,880 sq mi). In August 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that an extra 5,400 km (2,085 sq mi) would be added, bringing the total area to more than 33,000 km (12,741 sq mi), making Nahanni, Canada's third largest national park.

The only practical way to get to Nahanni National Park is by floatplane or by helicopter. Around 800-900 people visit the park every year.

See also

• National Parks of Canada
• List of Northwest Territories parks
• Nuk-luk

References

1. ^ Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada
2. ^ Harper announces expansion of N.W.T. park
3. Canadian Heritage Rivers System
4. UNEP-WCMC Protected Areas Programme - Nahanni National Park
5. Rabbitkettle Hotsprings and Tufa Mounds
6. Harper kicks off Arctic sovereignty tour
7. Stephen Harper (August 8, 2007). "Prime Minister announces the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve". pm.gc.ca. Retrieved 2008-06-25.

External links

• Parks Canada
• South Nahanni River
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Nahanni campaign
• UN Protected Areas and World Heritage, Nahanni National Park Reserve

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