Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park
| Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park | |
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 Flyover of the sand dunes |
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| Location |  Saskatchewan |
| Nearest city | Uranium City |
| Coordinates | 59°03′47″N 108°57′44″W / 59.06306°N 108.96222°WCoordinates: 59°03′47″N 108°57′44″W / 59.06306°N 108.96222°W |
| Area | 1,925 square kilometres (743 sq mi) |
| Established | October 1988 |
| Governing body | Saskatchewan Parks |
Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park was created to protect the Athabasca sand dunes. The dunes are a unique geophysical land feature in the boreal shield ecosystem of the province of Saskatchewan.[1]
It first came to attention that it should be a protected area in 1969, finally becoming the Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Wilderness Park on August 24, 1992.
The park extends for 100 kilometres along the southern edge of Lake Athabasca. The sand dunes are 400 to 1,500 metres long, and their maximum height is approximately 30 metres.[2] It is the most northerly sand dune area in the world, and accessible by float plane or boat only.[3]
The William River flows through the western section of the park ending in a large river delta. The McFarlane River flows through the far eastern section of the park. The park goes around the Fond du Lac 231 (Indian Reserve) located on the McFarlane River. The First Nations village of Fond du Lac is located 44 km (27 miles) by air from the park's eastern boundary.[4]
Endemic flora
This area is home to rare species of plant life not found anywhere else. Some of the plants which may be found in this area are field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), felt-leaved willow (Salix silicicola), Mackenzie hairgrass (Deschampsia mackenzieana), Tyrrell’s willow (Salix planifolia tyrrellii), and floccose tansy (Tanacetum huronense var. floccosum).[2]
See also
↑Jump back a sectionMaps
Lake Athabasca (data date June 9, 2002):[5] the ice is light blue, dark blue is open water and the sand dunes located within the park on the south shore are white.
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- Mouth of the William River 59°8′48.16″N 109°18′28.02″W / 59.1467111°N 109.3077833°W
- Mouth of the McFarlane River 59°12′38.21″N 107°57′44.75″W / 59.2106139°N 107.9624306°W
- Map
References
- ^ "Athabasca Sand Dunes". Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ a b Stewart, Iain (2006). "Athabasca Sand Dunes". Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Centre, University of Regina. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Saskatchewan 2011-2012 Provincial Parks Guide (PDF). Saskatchewan Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. 2006. p. 43. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Jones, Art (2006). "Saskatchewan's Athabasca Sand Dunes". Western Canadian Online Outdoors News. Ya'Gotta Communications & Marketing. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "GREAT SLAVE LAKE AND LAKE ATHABASCA, CANADA". Retrieved 2013-01-25.
External links
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