The Obabika River Provincial Park is a provincial park in Ontario, Canada, straddling across the boundaries of the Sudbury , Nipissing , and Timiskaming Districts. While it is named after and includes the Obabika River , the bulk of the park extends north of Obabika Lake to the eastern boundary of Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park .
7-584: The park was created in 1989 and expanded in 2002 to 205 square kilometres (79 sq mi). Highlights of the park include island-dotted lakes, meandering rivers, bedrock uplands and expansive wetlands, as well as a number of historic settlements and indigenous archaeological sites dating back 6000 years. It provides trails through the pristine Obabika Old-Growth Forest , providing nature exploration and wildlife viewing opportunities. Permitted activities include canoe camping , fishing, hiking, hunting, and boating (albeit with restrictions). The canoe routes through
14-428: Is commonly considered to be the largest remaining white pine dominated old-growth forest in the world. It is also sometimes called Chee-Skon Lake old-growth forest, or Wakimika Triangle old-growth forest. This area was slated for logging in 1989 and was protected largely as a result of a blockade on Red Squirrel Road in which 344 protestors were arrested, including future Ontario premier Bob Rae . The oldest trees in
21-621: The Obabika old-growth forest are confirmed to be at least 375 years old, but a diversity of age classes occur in this forest. Another important feature of the area is the spirit rock, a column of rock on the shore of Chee-Skon Lake that is of spiritual significance to the Teme-Augama Anishnabai people. The Obabika old-growth forest is protected within the Obabika River Provincial Park . The forest
28-423: The park are part of Temagami's 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) long network of portages and waterways. Many of these portages are traditional indigenous routes called "nastawgan", which link this park with adjacent parks, conservation reserves, and Crown land. The park can be divided into 4 areas, consisting of both wilderness (limited or no development) and natural environment (some development allowed to support
35-503: The park's mission) zones: It is an operational park requiring permits for camping. Facilities included 65 backcountry campsites. Services provided are portage, campsite, and trail maintenance. The park is part of a network of provincial parks and conservation reserves in the Temagami area. It forms a natural corridor between the adjacent Sturgeon River and Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Parks . If established, it will also link to
42-437: The proposed Lake Temagami Provincial Park . Furthermore, it borders on Bob Lake Conservation Reserve, which protects some old growth pine forests and provides an alternate canoe route between Lake Temagami , Diamond, and Obabika Lakes. Other adjacent conservation reserves are East Lady Evelyn Lake Conservation Reserve (protecting the northern part of Lady Evelyn Lake), Sugar Lake Conservation Reserve (a large roadless area between
49-522: The upper and lower basin of Lady Evelyn Lake), and Jim Edwards Lake Conservation Reserve (includes the headwaters for the Lady Evelyn River watershed and old-growth pine stands). Obabika Old-Growth Forest Obabika old-growth forest is an Eastern White Pine and Red Pine dominated old-growth forest at the north end of Obabika Lake , just west of the Temagami region of Ontario , Canada. At 2,400 hectares (5,900 acres) in size, it
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