In
the southern portion of the Haida Gwaii archipelago (Queen
Charlotte Islands), 215 km southwest of Prince Rupert on Canada's
west coast and 640 km north of Vancouver, is Gwaii Haanas
National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. It is a remote
area accessible only by boat or chartered aircraft.
Cooperatively managed by the Government of Canada and the
Council of the Haida Nation, this roughly triangular wilderness
area of 138 islands stretches 90 km from north to south.
Gwaii Haanas offers a unique blend of natural and cultural
features. To the west, mountains rise steeply. To the east,
the coastline is dotted with inlets, bays and islands, while
rain forest and upland bog, salmon streams, estuaries and
kelp beds sustain a rich diversity of life. The relationship
between the land, the sea, and the living culture of the Haida
people is powerful and dynamic.
Gwaii
Haanas combines rare opportunities to experience wilderness,
solitude, spirituality, adventure, discovery and Haida culture.
Wildlife encounters may include whales, bald eagles, colourful
intertidal life, or some of the 1 million seabirds nesting
along the shores, as well as black bears, river otters and
sea lions. Some of the vegetation and wildlife are unique
to these islands. |
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