Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park

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Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
Canada British Columbia relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park in British Columbia
Location British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city Fort Nelson
Coordinates 59°25′22″N126°05′48″W / 59.42278°N 126.09667°W / 59.42278; -126.09667 Coordinates: 59°25′22″N126°05′48″W / 59.42278°N 126.09667°W / 59.42278; -126.09667
Area10.82 km2 (4.18 sq mi)
EstablishedApril 1957
Governing bodyBC Ministry of Environment, BC Parks

Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. [1] It is home to the second largest natural hot springs in Canada, after Deer River Hot Springs 15km to the north east. [2] It is a natural river of hot water rather than a spring fed man made pool. [3] The park is part of the larger Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. [4] The community of Liard River, British Columbia is located nearby.

Contents

History and conservation

Alpha Pool Alpha pool at Liard River Hotsprings, British Columbia.JPG
Alpha Pool

The Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park was created in April 1957. The first boardwalk and pool facilities were built by the United States Army in 1942. The Liard River Hot Springs proper are located at 59°25′40″N126°06′15″W / 59.42778°N 126.10417°W / 59.42778; -126.10417 . [5] They were originally named the Theresa Hot Springs. [6]

The park contains a warm water swamp and boreal forest which supports rich and diverse plant communities as well as mammal and bird species. Watch for moose feeding in the warm water swamps. Bears, as well, are a common hazard in summer months, and may be feeding only 10 ft (3.0 m) away from bathers. Due to the lush plant life (including 14 species of orchids) influenced by the warmth of the springs, the area was originally known as the "Tropical Valley". A rare predatory black bear attack occurred on August 14, 1997, claiming two lives.

Recreation

Waterfall from Alpha Pool LiardHotsprings-1.JPG
Waterfall from Alpha Pool

Alpha pool with water temperatures ranging from 42 to 52 °C (108 to 126 °F); There are raised walkways from the parking area to the springs so that the delicate muskeg that forms the swamp is not disturbed. The walkway was the scene of a much-publicized black bear attack that killed two tourists on August 14, 1997. [7]

The campground is open year-round


Amenities

Information panel LiardHotsprings-info.JPG
Information panel

Location

The park is located at mile 475 (or km 765) on the Alaska Highway, between Fort Nelson (307 km (191 mi) south-east) and Watson Lake (218 km (135 mi) north-west). [8] The community of Liard River is just west of the park, at the 499 Milepost.

Size

1082 hectares in size.

See also

Related Research Articles

Liard River River in Canada

The Liard River of the North American boreal forest flows through Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rising in the Saint Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains in southeastern Yukon, it flows 1,115 km (693 mi) southeast through British Columbia, marking the northern end of the Rocky Mountains and then curving northeast back into Yukon and Northwest Territories, draining into the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. The river drains approximately 277,100 km2 (107,000 sq mi) of boreal forest and muskeg.

Liard River, British Columbia Place in British Columbia, Canada

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Muskwa River

The Muskwa River flows 257 kilometres (160 mi) through northern British Columbia, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Fort Nelson River - part of the Mackenzie River system. The river rises at Fern Lake in the Bedaux Pass in the Northern Rocky Mountains. From there, it flows generally east, then north, and then east again to meet with the Fort Nelson River just east of the town of Fort Nelson. The river drops approximately 1,100 metres (3,600 ft), its course taking it down the Rocky Mountain foothills through sub-alpine and boreal forest to meander across the forest and muskegs of the vast Liard River plains. From mouth to headwater, prominent tributaries include the Prophet River, Tuchodi River, and Gathto Creek. Much of the upper portions of this wilderness river and its watershed are located in the Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park, which is part of the larger Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. The region is a popular wilderness recreation destination.

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Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park

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Scatter River Old Growth Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on the Liard River downstream from Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park and Liard River Corridor Provincial Park and Protected Area. The park includes the Grand Canyon of the Liard, a 30 km stretch of canyon and whitewater between the Toad and Trout River confluences with the Liard. The park includes high upland plateau and muskeg as well as stands of old growth spruce forests. Established in 1999, the park is c.1140 ha. in area.

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The Turnagain River is a river in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

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Terminal Range Mountain range in British Columbia, Canada

The Terminal Range is the northernmost mountain range of the Canadian Rockies, so-named for its position at the northern terminus of the Rockies. Lying west of Muncho Lake and the Trout River, its northern perimeter is the Liard River. The Sentinel Range lies to its east.

Horneline Creek Provincial Park is a provincial park in far northern British Columbia, Canada. It is located west of the Kechika River about 130 km south of Lower Post and 30 km north of Denetiah Provincial Park and southwest of the community of Liard River.

The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area is a provincially run tract of land in the far north of British Columbia. It has an advisory board that advises the government on land-use decisions. Established by provincial government legislation in 1998, the area is meant to be preserved as a wild area, but development is not forbidden. The land is divided into different zones, with varying levels of protection, although the whole area is supposed to be used according to an overall plan. The original plan called for 25% of the land to be turned into provincial parks, 60% to become "special management zones" where mining and oil and gas drilling was to be allowed, and 15% to become "special wildland zones" where logging is prohibited. The original size of the M-KMA was 4,450,000 hectares however in 2000 with the approval of the Mackenzie Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) over 1,900,000 hectares were added to the M-KMA creating a total area of 6,400,000 hectares, which is approximately the size of the US state of Maine, or the island of Ireland, or seven times the size of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

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References

  1. "Liard River Hot Springs Park". BC Geographical Names .
  2. Deer River Hot Springs
  3. Liard Rive Hot Springs Provincial Park, BC Parks
  4. Muskwa-Kechika Protected Areas Archived October 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Muskwa-Kechika Management Area
  5. "Liard River Hot Springs". BC Geographical Names .
  6. "Thereas Hot Springs". BC Geographical Names .
  7. "Bear kills two, injures two in British Columbia". Boston Globe Online. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  8. Bell's Travel. "Alaska Highway" . Retrieved 2009-04-15.