The Torngat Mountains National Park of Canada
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Torngat Mountains National Parc National du Canada des Park of Canada Monts-Torngats parkscanada.gc.ca parcscanada.gc.ca Wittenborn Heiko WELCOME TO THE TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK OF CANADA 1.0 WELCOME ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 2.0 ESTABLISHMENT OF TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK ............................................................ 4 CANADA’S 42ND NATIONAL PARK ................................................................................................................................... 4 THE CONTEXT FOR PARK ESTABLISHMENT .................................................................................................................... 4 FROM A RESERVE TO A PARK .......................................................................................................................................... 6 CO-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: A DEFINING FEATURE .................................................................................................. 7 FOR THE RECORD ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 3.0 NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY .............................................................................................................. 9 A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE .............................................................................................................................................. 9 THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Geology of the Torngat Mountains........................................................................................................................ 10 A Glaciated Landscape........................................................................................................................................... 12 CLIMATE .................................................................................................................................................................... 14 VEGETATION ................................................................................................................................................................ 14 WILDLIFE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.0 PLANNING YOUR TRIP ........................................................................................................................................ 17 GET IN TOUCH WITH US BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME ....................................................................................................... 18 HOW TO CONTACT US .................................................................................................................................................. 18 INFORM YOURSELF ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP .......................................................................................................................................... 19 WEATHER ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 HIKING MAPS ........................................................................................................................................................... 20 NAUTICAL CHARTS....................................................................................................................................................... 21 GETTING HERE ............................................................................................................................................................. 21 COMMUNITY SERVICES ................................................................................................................................................ 23 INFORMATION FOR VISITORS TO THE PROVINCE ............................................................................................................ 25 TORNGAT MOUNTAINS BASECAMP AND RESEARCH STATION ...................................................................................... 25 5.0 VISITING THE TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK ....................................................................... 26 REGULATIONS AND REMINDERS OF CONSCIOUS CONSERVATION PRACTICES ...... 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SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS .......................................................................................................................... 27 HIKING AND BACKPACKING ......................................................................................................................................... 27 EVERYONE NEEDS TO REGISTER................................................................................................................................... 28 FEES AND PERMITS ....................................................................................................................................................... 29 BOATING SAFETY .......................................................................................................................................................... 30 CAMPING ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30 COOKING ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30 DRINKING WATER ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 HYGIENE....................................................................................................................................................................... 31 MANAGING HUMAN WASTE .......................................................................................................................................... 31 CHECK OUT ................................................................................................................................................................... 31 6.0 SAFETY AND HAZARDS ...................................................................................................................................... 32 A SAFETY BRIEFING IS OBLIGATORY ........................................................................................................................... 32 TERRAIN ....................................................................................................................................................................... 32 WEATHER AND HYPOTHERMIA ..................................................................................................................................... 32 WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS ............................................................................................................................................... 33 PROTECTION AGAINST WILDLIFE .................................................................................................................................. 34 7.0 IN AN EMERGENCY .............................................................................................................................................. 34 HELP IS A LONG WAY AWAY........................................................................................................................................ 34 EMERGENCY NUMBERS ................................................................................................................................................ 35 8.0 PARK MAPS............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Revised May 2015 2 1.0 WELCOME Welcome to the Torngat Mountains National Park – Canada’s 42nd national park. The spectacular landscape of the Torngat Mountains National Park protects 9,700 km2 of the Northern Labrador Mountains natural region. The park extends from Saglek Fjord in the south, including all islands and islets, to the very northern tip of Labrador; and from the provincial boundary with Quebec in the west, to the waters of the Labrador Sea in the east. Saglek Fjord Photo: Heiko Wittenborn The story of the establishment of this park is a story of working with Inuit as equal partners. Parks Canada recognizes and honours their special historical and cultural relationship with the land, and Inuit knowledge is incorporated in all aspects of park management. In fact, co-operative management is a defining feature of our park, and one that we view as a shared accomplishment. The Torngat Mountains National Park is a special place. We hope you will enjoy its magnificent natural heritage and discover its rich cultural history during your visit. Polar Bears are an Extreme Hazard Revised May 2015 3 2.0 ESTABLISHMENT OF TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Canada’s 42nd National Park The Torngat Mountains National Park was the 42nd national park to be established