LIMESTONE FANTASIES
A complex land of magnificent beauty on a staggering scale. Boiling rivers
sluicing through canyon walls that soar over a thousand metres upwards. Broad
plateaux washed in shades of red by dwarf birch. Limestone fantasy-landscapes
of sinkholes, pinnacles, rock bridges and stalactite-studded caves leading "God
knows where".
THE LAND
This is a limestone land of mountains and broad plateaux. The wide sweeping valleys of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers cut through this region. Rivers slice through the extensive high plateaux and mountains, carving deep canyons. Those of the South Nahanni are best known, but similar breathtaking canyons are found along other rivers in this region. Some of the most spectacular karst formations in the world are located here.
VEGETATION:
Dense boreal forests of white and black spruce, with stands of jack pine or lodgepole pine, cover the rolling uplands and terraces above the Mackenzie and Liard river valleys. Open boreal forests, interspersed with tundra covered by dwarf birch or grasses cloak the mountain flanks and high plateaux. Extensive areas of alpine tundra are found throughout this region.
WILDLIFE:
Large mammals include grizzly bear, black bear, woodland caribou, Dall's sheep, mountain goat, moose, wolf, wolverine, lynx and many more. Wood bison have been recently re-established in the Liard Valley. The rare trumpeter swan breeds in this region. Because of the diversity of habitats - from spruce forests to alpine tundra - both arctic and temperate species thrive here.
Nahanni National Park Reserve (4765 km2) represents this natural region. One of Canada's great wild rivers, the South Nahanni, rushes through this World Heritage Site. Some of the deepest river canyons in the world, spectacular mountains, bizarre karstlands, and a wealth of wildlife give this park its marvellous and unique character. Virginia Falls, more than twice the height of Niagara, is the best-known feature of the park. Nahanni provides critical habitat for significant wildlife species such as Dall's sheep, black and grizzly bear, wolf, golden eagle, peregrine falcon and trumpeter swan.
