Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve
Encyclopedia
Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve is located in central part of the Island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. The area encompasses an area of 2,895 km2 and is considered one of the last remaining unspoiled areas of the province devoid of human habitat. It was officially created as a wilderness
reserve in 1990.
The area boasts as containing the largest protected river system in the province. Bay du Nord River
, from which the area takes its name, was nominated as a Canadian Heritage River in 1992. Other features of the area would include Mount Sylvester
, a monadnock
formed during the last glacial period as well as the Tolt. The area is also the winter calving ground for the provinces largest caribou herd and contains the largest Canada goose
habitat on the island.
Early visitors to the area includes the Mi'kmaq and geologist James Patrick Howley
, who was the first European
to travel the entire river system. Howley had erected a cairn
as a surveying
aid in triangulation
on the summit of Mount Sylvester. This cairn still stands.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The area encompasses an area of 2,895 km2 and is considered one of the last remaining unspoiled areas of the province devoid of human habitat. It was officially created as a wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
reserve in 1990.
The area boasts as containing the largest protected river system in the province. Bay du Nord River
Bay du Nord River
The Bay du Nord River is located on the south coast of the Island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Much of the drainage basin is contained within the Middle Ridge Wildlife Reserve and the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve of central Newfoundland.The river empties...
, from which the area takes its name, was nominated as a Canadian Heritage River in 1992. Other features of the area would include Mount Sylvester
Mount Sylvester
Mount Sylvester is a large formation of rock of the glacier period found in central portion of the Island of Newfoundland.The mountain lies within the boundary of the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada....
, a monadnock
Monadnock
A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain...
formed during the last glacial period as well as the Tolt. The area is also the winter calving ground for the provinces largest caribou herd and contains the largest Canada goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
habitat on the island.
Early visitors to the area includes the Mi'kmaq and geologist James Patrick Howley
James Patrick Howley
James Patrick Howley was a naturalists and geologists, one of the first Europeans to visit the interior of the Island of Newfoundland at Bay du Nord River system....
, who was the first European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
to travel the entire river system. Howley had erected a cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
as a surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
aid in triangulation
Triangulation
In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than measuring distances to the point directly...
on the summit of Mount Sylvester. This cairn still stands.