The Largest National Park in Canada

The Wood Buffalo National Park is the largest national park in Canada and it's found in the northeastern part of Alberta. It covers nearly 45,000 kilometres. This national park is actually the second largest park in the entire world and the thirteenth largest natural protected area in the world. It was established in 1922 to provide protection for the Wood Bison of the area.

The park includes the Little Buffalo River and the Caribou Mountains. The headquarters of the park is found in Fort Smith and a satellite office is found in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. This park also provides the largest fresh water deltas, which are called the Peace-Athabasca Delta.

Along with all the many thing the Wood Buffalo National Park is known for, it's also known for the karst sinkholes. These are found in the northeastern part of the park. The Neon Lake Springs and the Jackfish River are also found here, as well.

In 1983, the part was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the biological diversity and the wild bison. Recently, it was designated as the world's largest Dark Sky Preserve, as well.

Visitors can experience most of what the park offers, along with the Northern Lights here. Camping, night sky viewing, planetarium fun and many other things are found within the park.

Along with the wood bison, the park is home to ruffled groups, sandhill crane, snowshoe hare, moose, black bear, brown bear, lynx, beaver, wolf and the northernmost population of red-sided garter snakes. It's the only natural nesting area for the Whooping Crane, which is an endangered animal, as well.

Getting to the park is easy with Mackenzie Highway, which connects to Highway 5. Commercial flights can also be taken from Edmonton to Fort Smith and Fort Chipewyan. Winter access is provided through Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan with the winter and ice roads.