|
home
Atlin Provincial Park and Recreation Area, British Columbia
beautifulcanada.net - information on all aspects of Canada.
Atlin Provincial Park and Recreation Area
Location British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city Atlin, Whitehorse
Coordinates 59°31′21″N 133°45′35″W / 59.5225, -133.75972
Area 3,011.40 km²
Established 1973
Governing body BC Parks
Atlin Provincial Park and Recreation Area is a provincial park in
British Columbia, Canada.
History
Atlin is a corruption of Áa Tlein, the Tlingit word for "big body of
water". The area has been used by the Taku River Tlingit for many years.
There are several archeological sites and cultural sites within the
park.
It was gold that gave Atlin its reason for existence. The gold rush came
to Atlin Lake country in 1898 and was one of the richest offshoots of
the Klondike Gold Rush. By the end of the mining season of 1899 about
5000 people flocked to the region, and Atlin was a busy and important
town. Although creeks in the present day park must have been prospected,
none bore any gold. Although production was greatest in the early years,
the Atlin field still produces today. Total placer gold production has
exceeded $23 000 000.
The park was created in 1973.
Conservation
Approximately one third of the park's area is occupied by glaciers. The
Llewellyn Glacier, considered the source of the Yukon River, is the most
prominent.
The parks aims to protect habitat for grizzly and black bear, mountain
goat, caribou, moose, Stone sheep, and various wolf populations. There
are many small mammals such as hoary marmots, Arctic ground squirrels,
pikas, beavers and otters. Birds also inhabit the park area, such as the
arctic tern, blue-grouse, ruffed-grouse and the rock, willow and
white-tailed ptarmigan.
Location
Located 20 kilometres south of Atlin, British Columbia, surrounding
Atlin Lake. Visitors cannot access the park by vehicle, but by boat or
aircraft only.
Size
301,140 hectares in size.
|