Algonquin Park is Ontario's oldest and second largest provincial park and in the minds of people all over the world as a wilderness destination. Its sparkling waters and beautiful forests attract visitors from around the globe. The reason Algonquin is so special is many fold. It is a very large park covering some 7,700 square kilometres of rolling hills and valleys. High on a dome compared to its surroundings, it can be quite warm in the summer and cool in winter and sometimes creates its own weather as warm moist air is pushed up and over the heights of the park by the prevailing winds. Because of its location on the cusp of the southern fringes of Ontario it is home to a diversified list of plant and animal species, some found only in the North and some only in the South. Here, in Algonquin is where they meet and mingle. |