Opasquia Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
The Opasquia Provincial Park is located in Northwest Ontario, Canada. Situated alongside the Manitoba
border, this remote park is approximately 1500000 acres (6,070.3 km²) in size. The Opasquia park is home to many different species of plants and animals.
, the Opasquia has no road access, even during the winter highway season. The park is accessible by float plane only. Hundreds of lakes and dozens of rivers flow northwest through this 473,000 ha park. The northwestern water flow is considered an anomaly due to the fact all other bodies of water in Ontario flow northeast towards Hudson Bay
and James Bay
. This can be attributed to the Cocos Plateau formed from glaciers during the last ice age
.
The reason the Opasquia Park has been protected as a wilderness park has more to do with its distinctive geology. A ridge of glacial till two kilometres wide rises 100 metres above its surroundings here. This is called the Opasquia Moraine. On the sides of the moraine, wave-cut terraces and segments of raised shoreline indicate the former limit of glacial Lake Agassiz .
population is what makes this park unique. Opasquia Provincial Park supports one of the largest concentration of wolverines in North America. The park also has large numbers of moose, bear, eagles, otters, beavers, and wolves. Hundreds of others species of birds have been identified, and northern pike
and walleye
dominate the fisheries in this park. Whitefish
and perch
have also been found in its waters.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
border, this remote park is approximately 1500000 acres (6,070.3 km²) in size. The Opasquia park is home to many different species of plants and animals.
Geographical features
Located approximately 185 miles (297.7 km) north of Red Lake, OntarioRed Lake, Ontario
Population trend:* Population in 2006: 4526* Population in 2001: 4233* Population total in 1996: 4778** Golden : 2248** Red Lake : 2277* Population in 1991:** Golden : 2355** Red Lake : 2268-Climate:...
, the Opasquia has no road access, even during the winter highway season. The park is accessible by float plane only. Hundreds of lakes and dozens of rivers flow northwest through this 473,000 ha park. The northwestern water flow is considered an anomaly due to the fact all other bodies of water in Ontario flow northeast towards Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
and James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
. This can be attributed to the Cocos Plateau formed from glaciers during the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
.
The reason the Opasquia Park has been protected as a wilderness park has more to do with its distinctive geology. A ridge of glacial till two kilometres wide rises 100 metres above its surroundings here. This is called the Opasquia Moraine. On the sides of the moraine, wave-cut terraces and segments of raised shoreline indicate the former limit of glacial Lake Agassiz .
Wildlife
The wolverineWolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
population is what makes this park unique. Opasquia Provincial Park supports one of the largest concentration of wolverines in North America. The park also has large numbers of moose, bear, eagles, otters, beavers, and wolves. Hundreds of others species of birds have been identified, and northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
and walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
dominate the fisheries in this park. Whitefish
Freshwater whitefish
The freshwater whitefish are fish of the subfamily Coregoninae in the salmon family Salmonidae. Along with the freshwater whitefish, the Salmonidae includes the freshwater and anadromous trout and salmon species as well as graylings...
and perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
have also been found in its waters.