Kejimkujik National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Kejimkujik National Park
iucn_category = II

---

caption = Location of "Kejimkujik National Park" in Canada
locator_x = 245
locator_y = 185
location = Nova Scotia, Canada
nearest_city = Halifax
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 23
lat_seconds = 57
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 65
long_minutes = 13
long_seconds = 06
long_direction = W
area = 404 km²
established = 1968
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Parks Canada

Kejimkujik National Park (or "Keji") is part of the Canadian National Parks system, located in the province of Nova Scotia (NS). The park consists of two geographically separate properties: the main park is located in the upland Atlantic Interior of the Nova Scotia peninsula bordering Queens and Annapolis counties; whereas the much smaller seaside adjunct is located on the Atlantic coast of Queens County. The park covers an area of 404 km².

Waterways

Kejimkujik National Park conserves two distinct environments:

The large main section of the park is a forested upland plain located approximately 50 kilometres inland from the South Shore and Annapolis Valley and may be accessed from Trunk 8 running between Liverpool and Annapolis Royal.

The park is named after Kejimikujik Lake, the largest lake inside the main section of the park. The many lakes and rivers form interior waterways that were important canoe routes between the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic for the ancestors of the Mi'kmaq. The park also contains the petroglyphs left behind by these inhabitants. The lake's Mi'kmaq name has been translated as "attempting to escape" or "swollen waters", possibly related to fishing weirs placed on the lake. The park's official stance is that Kejimkujik is a Mi'kmaq word meaning "tired muscles".

The smaller seaside adjunct includes white sandy beaches and coastal wetland areas. The park includes habitat for the endangered Piping Plover and other coastal birds. It is located off Highway 103 near the villages of Port Mouton and Port Joli.

Rivers

Rivers in the park include the:
*Mersey River
*West River
*Little River
*Shelburne River

Interior Camping

Although there are numerous drive in campgrounds in Keji the park is also known for its interior camping: campsites which are only accessible by canoe or hiking in the summer, or ski or snowshoe in the winter. Keji provides excellent canoing, with numerous navigable lakes and rivers forming an interconnected system. The further a camper progresses from access points, the more wild the park becomes, and it is possible to spend several days in the interior with little or no sight of other campers. Park staff maintain portages along major routes.

Interior campsites can vary widely, and none have any permanent shelter. Sufficient bad-weather gear (tents, tarps, etc) should be brought so the trip can remain enjoyable in the face of less-than-perfect weather. All campsites have a firebox, which should be the only location used for fires. Fires made in non-prepared sites can cause underground roots to burn, allowing the fire to spread.

Wildlife

Interior camping can provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Moose, deer, beaver and loon are not uncommon, especially along waterways. Black bears, though present in the park, are seldom seen.There are several uncommon species of organisms that call Kejimkujik their home. The Blanding's turtle which is considered an endangered species in Nova Scotia is similar in size to the common Painted turtle however the Blanding's is characterized by its yellow coloured neck. Juveniles measure between 5 and 12cm in carapace diameter while adult females can measure between 25 and 35cm. It is a very gentle turtle that frequently nests on beaches that are accessible by the public. For this reason it is important for visitors to be careful not to disturb nesting turtles, and to report any sightings to the visitor centre. The Eastern Ribbonsnake is a threatened species in Nova Scotia and lives in several isolated areas in the park. The Eastern Ribbonsnake upon first glance may be easily confused with the common Garter snake, but the Eastern Ribbonsnake is defined by 3 longitudinal yellow stripes on the dorsal side and a black or dark brown colouration. Adult Eastern Ribbonsnakes in the park usually measure between 50 and 70cm in length.

The Tent Dwellers

The Tent Dwellers is a book by Albert Bigelow Paine [cite book
first = Albert Bigelow
last = Paine
year = 1908
title = The Tent Dwellers
publisher = The Outing Publishing Co., London, England
id = ] , chronicling his travels through inland Nova Scotia on a trout fishing trip with Dr. Edward "Eddie" Breck, and with guides Charles "the strong" and Del "the stout", in the early 1900s. Originally published in 1908, the book takes place in what is now Kejimkujik National Park and the adjacent Tobeatic Game Reserve. The descriptions of the park contained in the book are beautifully written and uncannily accurate, such as

"...the shores are green; the river or brook is clear and cold - and tarry black in the deep places; the water leaps and dashes in whirlpools and torrents, and the lakes are fairy lakes, full of green islands - mere ledges, many of them, with two or three sentinel pines - and everywhere the same clear, black water, and always the trout, the wonderful, wild, abounding Nova Scotia trout."

Sadly, the trout which brought Paine and Breck to the park area are now largely absent, due to higher acid levels in the water from acid rain.

ee also

*National Parks of Canada
*List of National Parks of Canada
*List of parks in Nova Scotia

References

External links

* [http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ns/kejimkujik/index_e.asp Official Parks Canada site for Kejimkujik National Park]
* [http://www.friendsofkeji.ns.ca/index.shtml Friends of Keji website]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=44.44162421758805+-65.19012451171875&ie=UTF8&ll=44.441624,-65.190125&spn=0.251984,0.692139&om=1 Keji @ Google Maps]