“Ontario is home to park areas that impress with their incredible history,” writes toronto.name. They are, without exaggeration, genuine witnesses of the area’s history and also harbor numerous secrets of great value.
One of them is the Thousand Islands National Park, a Canadian National Park within the province of Ontario. This striking area is basically represented by eroded peaks that once were part of ancient mountain ranges.
The park encompasses a total of 21 islands, along with numerous smaller islets, two mainland properties, and a visitor center conveniently situated in Mallorytown.
It’s worth noting that this national park is the smallest in all of Canada. It covers a total area of only 9.4 square miles.
As a rule, visitors get to the park’s territory by boat.
The park has numerous spots for leisure activities. Specifically, there are islands for camping and picnicking.
This park area holds immense historical value. Therefore, archaeologists and historians visit frequently to add new and unique facts from the local history to the treasure trove of their knowledge.
First inhabitants
It is commonly believed that the first inhabitants living in the present-day park were represented by hunting and fishing people. They arrived in the area after the end of the Last Ice Age.
Valuable finds
Subsequently, experts discovered valuable artifacts on the park’s territory. In particular, we are talking about a 2500-year-old pot found by a diver in 1979. Additionally, certain coastal cliffs within the park are adorned with pictographs.
Fishery
During the early seventeenth century, the Iroquois established multiple sizable summer encampments along the riverbanks, where they were actively involved in fishing.
Around the same time, the region garnered the interest of French explorers and fur traders, who embarked on expeditions to survey the area.
New settlers
When the events of the American Revolution came to an end in the eighteenth century, an active migration to the area began among European settlers. So, the traditional fishing camps were forced to relocate.
The Iroquois, on the other hand, continued their fishery, but there was a severe depletion of fish in 1860.
Historical boats
During the hostilities in 1812, the region that currently encompasses the park drew significant interest from both the British and American naval forces, leading to a substantial increase in visits to the area by their ships.
Notably, a British gunboat, recovered from the depths in 1967, was lost in its immediate vicinity. After recovery, the boat’s hull was carefully treated and subsequently displayed as an exhibit inside the park’s grounds.
A significant landmark
Another park landmark, the Martello Towers, was constructed to thwart the beginning of any potential American invasion.
Creating the park
The park itself was created in 1904 and quickly gained a reputation as the foremost national park situated to the east of the Rocky Mountains. It was previously known as St. Lawrence Islands National Park until its name was changed to Thousand Islands National Park in 2013, aligning with its natural surroundings.
It is worth noting that in 1997, St. Lawrence Islands National Park was designated as one of the four national parks exhibiting the most significant levels of damage to ecological integrity.
Park inhabitants
Thousand Islands National Park boasts a variety of wildlife species that visitors may have the opportunity to observe during their visit. Among the most commonly sighted park inhabitants are the majestic osprey, the graceful map turtles, the elusive mink, the magnificent great blue herons and the elegant white-tailed deer. Additionally, the park is home to numerous mammals, including porcupines, coyotes, foxes, beavers, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels and weasels.
Therefore, everyone has a remarkable opportunity to touch nature and personally observe animals in their natural habitats. This experience holds particular significance and value for children who are only beginning to explore the surrounding world and become acquainted with its unique traits.