Added: 10/25/2005 |
Discover Saint Lawrence National ParkSaint Lawrence Islands National Park is located right in the heart of the Thousand islands. A popular tourist spot, this Eastern Ontario area on the St Lawrence river offers much to entertain its visitors. Saint Lawrence National Park may be the smallest of Canada's national parks with a total area of only nine square kilometers, but it has a real natural beauty and a rich historical and cultural heritage that is sure to enchant any visitor to the area. Those who visit the area will be sure to have very fond memories of St Lawrence Island. It is a popular site for summer campers and also as a stopping point on boating trips up and down the St Lawrence River. It is also an excellent stopover point for people sailing from Kingston into Lake Ontario or cursing up to Ottawa via the Rideau Canal.
The park was first established in 1904 with the government's purchase of a small bit of waterfront property and has since grown to include twenty islands and approximately ninety inlets. These islands include Gordon which is a sandstone-based island with rich vegetation, Mermaid which is a very tiny island knows as a roche moutonnee and Beau Rivage which has been used for camping and picnicking since the park's establishment in 1904. This region connects to both the Canadian shield and the Adirondack Mountains in New York state.
Visitors of St. Lawrence Island delight in the many activities Saint Lawrence National Park has to offer. As primarily an island park, many visitors to the area choose to come by boat. Both power and sailboats are welcome to the park. Sea kayaking has also become a very popular activity around St Lawrence Island Mallorytown landing offers picnic areas and washrooms for day visitors, and during the summer season you can also visit exhibits on the St Lawrence island area and its natural and cultural heritage. These exhibitions are also available by appointment during the off-season. If you are a teacher, the Parks education program offers special visits for your class during the fall. These visits can be booked by contacting the Park.
If you are interested in stopping overnight at the Park, there are campsites on twelve of the islands. These are primitive and offer very few services so be sure that you come prepared. You can reserve a spot at a campground on either Mallorytown Landing or Central Grenadier Island ahead of time by calling the Park office directly.
Parks Canada is working hard to protect and preserve the park for future generations, and the organization is particularly aware of threats to the park and its wildlife and plant life from visitor pressures, day-to-day operations and toxins and pollutants in the environment.
Though many people stopover at Saint Lawrence National Park by boat, the area is also easily accessible by car. The park lies on the St Lawrence River between the cities of Kingston and Brockville. The weather in the area is moderated by the Great Lakes and the Thousand Lakes Islands are cooler than inland areas.
If you are planning a visit to southeastern Ontario, you'll want to make a bit of time to explore Saint Lawrence National Park.
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