Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park

Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Manitoba, Canada.

Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park is comprised of Hecla Island, Grindstone (the area located on the mainland peninsula along the west shore of Lake Winnipeg), Black Island and a number of other small islands. Hecla Island is approximately 1084 square km and is surrounded by Lake Winnipeg, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.

The island was settled by the second wave of Icelandic immigrants in 1876. The population thrived for a number of years until faced with the hardships of winters, disease and poor economic outlook for commercial fishing and farming. The only school on the island closed in 1970. The Provincial government established the island as a provincial park in 1969 and encompased Grindstone to create Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park in 1997.

Landscapes are varied, and include areas of coniferous and mixed forests, limestone cliffs and silica sand beaches, as well as marshes, bogs, fens and wet meadows. Classified as a Natural Park, its purpose is to preserve areas that are representative of the Mid Boreal Lowland portion of the Manitoba Lowlands Natural Region; and accommodate a diversity of recreational opportunities and resource uses.

Currently, Hecla Island boasts a number of tourist attractions from a campground, resort hotel (currently under renovation and set to re-open in 2007), sandy beaches, summer homes, a full-service marina and world class 18-hole golf course. The golf course and marina are operated privately and are independent of the provincial park.

Grindstone, a long peninsula approximately equal in size to Hecla Island. Grindstone has more than 350 privately owned cottages, a general store and sandy beaches. The residents hold an Annual Grindstone Days in early August with family activities. Wildlife in the park includes the black bear, moose, fox, beaver; birds that can be seen are the bald eagle, loon, pelican, hawk, hummingbird, woodpeckers and owls.

ee also

*List of Manitoba parks

External links

* [http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/popular_parks/hecla_grindstone/info.html Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park info at Manitoba Government website]

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