Sproat Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park

Provincial park

A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...

 near Port Alberni in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, 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...

's Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

. Its name derives from a lake named after Gilbert Malcolm Sproat

Gilbert Malcolm Sproat

Gilbert Malcolm Sproat was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman, office holder, and author. Arriving on Vancouver Island in 1860, he helped to found the first sawmill in Port Alberni, British Columbia. On 24 July. 1863 he was made the justice of the peace for the Colony of Vancouver Island...

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One of the park's most significant features is a panel of petroglyphs called "K’ak’awin" on lakeshore rocks depicting mythological figures. Though little is known of the origin of the prehistoric images, the area has been traditionally occupied by the Hupacasath First Nation

Hupacasath First Nation

The Hupacasath First Nation is a First Nations government based in the Alberni Valley on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. An alternate spelling of Hupacasath is Opetchesaht or Opitchesaht.-See...

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The 39-hectare park on Highway 4 is 15 kilometres west of Port Alberni and is a popular recreation area feature swimming and boating in Sproat Lake

Sproat Lake

Sproat Lake, named after Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, is a lake in central Vancouver Island. Home of the last Martin Mars type Waterbombers, and near Port Alberni, Sproat Lake is a summer hangout for the Alberni Valley. Highway 4 runs along its scenic north shore....

 and camping. There is a popular boat launch and 58 vehicle-accessible campsites in the park.

The park is near the home base of Coulson Flying Tankers, which operates Martin Mars water bombers.

External links

• Sproat Lake Provincial Park Official Site
• Sproat Lake Vacation Accommodations Lakeside accommodation and vacation rental on Sproat Lake, near Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada