Voyageurs National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Voyageurs National Park
iucn_category = II

---

caption =
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = St. Louis County & Koochiching County, Minnesota, USA
nearest_city = International Falls
lat_degrees = 48
lat_minutes = 30
lat_seconds = 0
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 92
long_minutes = 53
long_seconds = 0
long_direction = W
area = 218,054 acres (882 km²)
established = April 8, 1975
visitation_num = 220,650
visitation_year = 2007
governing_body = National Park Service

Voyageurs National Park is a United States National Park in northern Minnesota near the town of International Falls. It was established in 1975. The park's name commemorates the "voyageurs", French-Canadian fur traders who were the first European settlers to frequently travel through the area. [ [http://www.nps.gov/voya/history/history.htm Voyageurs In Depth] Accessed Aug 5th, 2006] The park is notable for its outstanding water resources and is popular with canoeists, kayakers, other boaters and fishermen. The Kabetogama Peninsula, which lies entirely within the park and makes up most of its land area, is accessible only by boat. To the east of the National Park lies the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The park has several boat ramps and visitor centers around its periphery, though the main body of the park is only accessible by boat or, in the winter, by snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe. The park hosts about 235,000 visitors per year. convert|114000|acre|km2|-1 of the park are intended to be wilderness by Sept. 30, 2006. [ [http://www.nps.gov/voya/pphtml/newsdetail21453.html National Park Service News] Accessed Aug 5th, 2006]

The park was first proposed in April 1891 by the Minnesota Legislature in a resolution requesting that the president create a national park in Minnesota. It wasn't until nearly eighty years later that federal legislation authorizing the creation of the park was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on January 8, 1971.

The use of snowmobiles in Voyageurs National Park, like in Yellowstone, is controversial, with opponents claiming they damage the natural beauty of the park and adversely affect wildlife.

The largest city near Voyageurs National Park is International Falls, Minnesota.

Park Waters

, Sand Point Lake, and Crane Lake. Of these, Namakan, Rainy and Sand Point lakes straddle the United States-Canada border. Lake Namakan and Sand Point Lake are accessible only by boat except in the winter. Lots of minor lakes dot the park, especially on the Kabetogama peninsula. Most popular of these are on the Locator Lakes trail.

Sport Fish

The major lakes in the park are home to Walleye, Northern pike, Smallmouth bass and Crappie. In the minor lakes that dot the park, Largemouth bass, Lake trout, Bluegill and other small sunfish and Yellow Perch are also found, although not every lake has every species. For example, Lake Trout are found primarily in Cruiser Lake north of Kettle Falls. Shoepack and Root (Little Shoepack) lakes in the center of the park's peninsula are home to the Shoepack strain of Muskellunge, distinctly different from the Mississippi strain (or Leech Lake strain) found throughout southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Lake Whitefish are also a popular quarry via sport netting in the fall when they move into shallow water to spawn. [ [http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/] |Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Lake Information Reports]

Kettle Falls

Kettle Falls is located between Lake Namakan and Rainy Lake, and is the location of the Kettle Falls Hotel. The hotel was constructed in 1910 by timber baron Ed Rose and operated as a hotel and resort to this day. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Kettle Falls can only be reached by boat in the summer months and is one of the few places in the lower forty-eight states where you look South into Canada. [ [http://www.kettlefallshotel.com/ Kettle Falls Hotel Website] ]

Camping

Campsites are maintained by the National Prk Service and are accessible only by water. Sites are classified as tent, houseboat, or day-use sites; all are designated by signs. Tenters may not camp in houseboat sites or day-use sites. Maps showing the location of these sites are availble at the visitor centers. Permits are required for overnight stays. Permits can be obtained at any park visitor center or boat ramp. Public and private campgrounds, accessible by car, are located near the perimeter of the park.

External links

* [http://www.nps.gov/voya/ National Park Service: Voyageurs National Park]
* [http://www.voyageurs.org Voyageurs National Park Association]
* [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17415 Voyageurs National Park] at NASA Earth Observatory

Notes