St. Lawrence Islands National Park

St. Lawrence Islands National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location of St. Lawrence Islands National Park in Canada
Location	Canada
Nearest city	Brockville, Ontario
Coordinates	44°24′52″N 75°52′23″W / 44.41444, -75.87306Coordinates: 44°24′52″N 75°52′23″W / 44.41444, -75.87306
Area	9 km²
Established	1914
Governing body	Parks Canada

St. Lawrence Islands National Park (established 1904) is located in the Thousand Islands Region of the Saint Lawrence River. The islands are actually the worn-down tops of ancient mountains. This region, the Frontenac Axis, connects the Canadian Shield to the Adirondack Mountains in New York. The park consists of 21 islands plus many smaller islets and a visitor centre at Mallorytown, Ontario on the mainland. This is Canada's smallest national park with a total area of 9 km². Much of the park is only accessible by boat. There are picnic facilities and limited camping facilities on several islands.

History

The first inhabitants of the park were Aboriginals who began fishing and hunting in the area around the end of the last glacial period 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 despite damage due to acid rain and vandals. By the early 17th century, the Iroquois people had up large summer encampments on the riverbanks from which they fished the rich waters. Around this time they began to be visited by French explorers, fur traders, and missionaries following the St Lawrence river to seek their fortune in the new world. Following the American Revolution 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 war of 1812, the St Lawrence Islands National Park area was visited by both British and American warships. The preserved hull of a British Gunboat was sunk nearby and, raised in 1967, it now resides at the park. Martello towers were built in the area to defend the British from American invasion. Inside the park, Cedar Island, a small island visible from downtown Kingston, Ontario, is the site of Cathcart Martello tower.

See also

• Canadian National Parks
• List of Canadian national parks
• List of Ontario parks

External links

• Official Site

•  • e National Parks of Canada
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National Park Reserves	Gulf Islands · Gwaii Haanas · Pacific Rim · Torngat Mountains · Mingan Archipelago · Kluane · Nahanni · Tuktut Nogait
Marine Conservation Areas	Fathom Five · Lake Superior · Saguenay-St. Lawrence
National Landmark	Pingo

•  • e Parks in Ontario
National parks	Bruce Peninsula · Fathom Five · Georgian Bay Islands · Lake Superior · Point Pelee · Pukaskwa · St. Lawrence Islands
Provincial parks	Algonquin · Bon Echo · French River · Frontenac · Killarney · Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater · Lake Superior · Polar Bear · Quetico · Sandbanks · Sleeping Giant · more...
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves	Georgian Bay Littoral · Long Point · Niagara Escarpment · Thousand Islands - Frontenac Arch · Wasaga Beach
National Historic Sites	Central Experimental Farm · Dundurn Castle · Laurier House · Massey Hall · Montgomery's Tavern · Osgoode Hall · Parliament · Rideau Canal · Rideau Hall · more...