In 1988 the Gwaii Haanas National Park was established. He is in the Canadian British Columbia Province and has an area of 1495 square kilometers.
The area of the area extends over the south of the archipelago of the Queen Charlotte Islands. The special thing about this area is that there are numerous islands here. Countless small hills protrude from the water for about 90 kilometers.
It is not completely clear who actually owns the park or the area. But it is jointly managed by the Canadian government and the Council of the Haida Nation operated and managed. The Haida are natives of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Of course, they attach great importance to preserving the heritage of their culture! The status of the national park protects the region from dangerous deforestation by the timber industry. In 1981 the area received another honor. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This rewarded the efforts of the indigenous people.
It is important for visitors to know that there are no roads in the entire park area. If you want to visit the Gwaii Haanas National Park, you have to register in advance. An arrival is only accessible by boat or by plane possible, although aircraft owners are not allowed to travel with their own aircraft. It is only possible to get to the island by rental plane. This makes a stay in the region quite expensive. However, it is worth it, because the breathtaking and untouched wilderness really provides fascinating impressions.
The connection of the region with the indigenous people
The Haida left a former settlement in the area. Hence their claim to ownership comes from. Around 10 ruined houses and 32 totem poles still stand here today. The former village is an important cultural site for the Haida people. This place was inhabited by the Haida tribe for several centuries. In 1860, however, over 300 people fell victim to an epidemic.
The name of the park also comes from the language of the Haida Indians. Gwaii-Haanas means island full of wonder and beauty.
Landscape of the park
The landscape of the entire area is characterized by the mountainous region of the Queen Charlotte Mountains. In addition, you will find numerous bays, fjords and somewhat atypical rainforests here. These rainforests are estimated to be over 1,000 years old. They are part of the Haida cultural heritage. The people lived here for about 10,000 years.
The mild climate of the region and the Pacific air ensure that the rainforests can grow and flourish. In the Gwaii Haanas National Park you can also find animals that can not be found in any other national park in Canada.
There is a large population of fish in the waters. The Haida were so good at hunting and gathering for a living.
The descendants of the Haida have been reviving the culture for 20 years. The tribe has a very special technique with which they build the famous Haida canoes. These canoes are up to 50 feet in length and are made from one piece. There are many different indigenous cultures in Canada, which differ greatly in terms of their areas and development. A great idea in 2010 was the emblem for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Here you can see an Inusuk. This is a human figure built from stacked stones.
