Nahanni National Park Reserve

Nahanni National Park Reserve
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location of Nahanni National Park Reserve in Canada
Location	Northwest Territories, Canada
Nearest city	Fort Simpson Fort Liard Nahanni ButteNearest city: Fort Simpson Fort Liard Nahanni Butte
Coordinates	61°05′00″N 123°36′00″W / 61.0833333°N 123.6°W / 61.0833333; -123.6Coordinates: 61°05′00″N 123°36′00″W / 61.0833333°N 123.6°W / 61.0833333; -123.6
Area	4,766 km2 (1,840 sq mi)[1]
Established	1976 Established: 1976
Governing body	Parks Canada
World Heritage Site	1978

Nahanni National Park*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Canada
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, viii
Reference	24
Region**	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	1978  (2nd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, approximately 500 km (311 mi) west of Yellowknife,^[2] 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.^[3][4] 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.^[5] 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.^[1]

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.^[1]

History

Originally established in 1972, by then Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau,^[2] the park was 4,766 km² (1,840 sq mi) in area.^[1] In 2003, an agreement between the Dehcho First Nations and Parks Canada gave temporary protection to 23,000 km² (8,880 sq mi).^[2] In August 2007, the federal government added an extra 5,400 km² (2,085 sq mi), bringing the total area to more than 33,000 km² (12,741 sq mi),^[6] making Nahanni, Canada's third largest national park.^[7]

June 29 1964. After 41 people had died attempting to conquer the Nahanni river, nicknamed “the man eater”, explorer parachutist Jean Poirel from Montreal jumped at its source 500 km North of Yellowknife, in an attempt to explore the valley for the first time. He was followed by his teammate and friend Bertrand Bordet. They found themselves in an unknown territory, and could not count on any help or rescue from the civilized world. In survival mode, they would have to confront the savage force of the river and its freezing water, spongiest swamps, cold weather and hunger, wolves, grizzly bears, and more still, the continuous attacks of mosquitoes. Further downriver they reached the base camp established by Claude Bernardin and Roger Rochat who arrived from Yellowknife by sea plane. The four men continued the exploration, fighting the savage force of the river and its freezing rapids.

Jean Poirel imagined the idea of going down the river with inflatable dinghies, opening the path to a new “rafting” sport. Against all odds and after months of fighting the unknown, they vanquished the river and its dangerous rapids. During the following four consecutive expeditions in the valley Jean Poirel discovered more that 250 caverns. The most important contained 116 Dall sheep’s skeletons (carbon-14 dated to 2500 years BP) giving this discovery an inestimable value. Jean Poirel named it “Valerie Cavern” after his daughter. He took topographic notes and drew detailed maps, paving the way for the park's creation. During his last expedition in 1972, he escorted Pierre Trudeau, who came in person to estimate this superb and fascinating region. ^[8][9]

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.

Expansion

On 9 June 2009 the Canadian Government, with the Dehcho First Nations, announced legislation that will increase the area of Nahanni National Park by more than six times. The new protected area will cover around 30,000 km² (11,583 sq mi), including 91% of the Greater Nahanni ecosystem in the Dehcho region and most of the South Nahanni River watershed.^[10]

The new park area is estimated to be the home of around 500 grizzly bears, two herds of woodland caribou, as well as species of alpine sheep and goats and other species. The new boundary will include the highest mountains and largest ice fields in the Northwest Territories.^[11]

See also

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

References

External links

• Parks Canada
• South Nahanni River
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Nahanni campaign
• UN Protected Areas and World Heritage, Nahanni National Park Reserve
• [1] - Canoe trip down Nahanni River

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