Thousand Islands National Park

Thousand Islands National Park
IUCN category II (national park)[1]
Aerial view of Thousand Islands National Park
Location of Thousand Islands National Park in Canada Show map of Canada Location of Thousand Islands National Park in Southern Ontario Show map of Southern Ontario
Location	United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada
Nearest city	Brockville, Ontario
Coordinates	44°21′09″N 75°57′19″W / 44.35263°N 75.95532°W / 44.35263; -75.95532
Area	24.4 km2 (9.4 sq mi)
Established	1904
Governing body	Parks Canada

Thousand Islands National Park (established 1904), formerly known as the St. Lawrence Islands National Park, is a

.

The park consists of 21 islands plus many smaller islets, 2 mainland properties and a visitor centre at

's smallest national parks with a total area of 24.4 square kilometres (9.4 sq mi).

Much of the park is only accessible by boat. Trail systems can be found on the mainland along the 1000 Islands Parkway at Mallorytown Landing, Jones Creek and Landon Bay. There are picnic, camping and oTENTik facilities on several islands and at Mallorytown Landing.^{[citation needed]} Mallorytown Landing is a day use area that offers a large parking, a boat ramp, several oTENTiks, picnic gazebos, play ground, animal exhibits, travelling exhibits, and interpreters.^{[citation needed]}

The Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, in which the park is located, is known for being the most biodiverse region in Canada.^[2]

History

The first inhabitants of the park area are thought to have been hunting and fishing peoples who arrived following the

approximately 10,000 years ago. Many artifacts have been found in the park, including a 2500-year-old pot that was found by a diver in 1979. Pictographs are still visible on some shoreline cliffs.

By the early 17th century, the

at the end of the 18th century, European settlers began moving into the area and the traditional fishing encampments were displaced. A few Iroquois still returned to fish, but by the 1860s fish stocks were greatly depleted.

During the

.

The park was established in 1904, the first Canadian national park east of the Rocky Mountains. It was called St. Lawrence Islands National Park until 2013, when it was renamed to Thousand Islands National Park to reflect the natural area in the name.[3]

In 1997, the park was named one of the national parks with the highest levels of ecological impairment.^[4]

Since 2019, the park has hosted experimental theatre performances on Cedar Island, as part of The Kick & Push Festival.^[5]

Fauna

Animals that inhabit this national park are

.

See also

• National Parks of Canada
• List of National Parks of Canada
• List of Ontario parks

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thousand Islands National Park.

• Official website