| Nova Scotia's Kejimkujik National Park was established in 1967 and covers 382 sq. km. The
only inland national park in the Maritimes, Kejimkujik is a region of lush woodlands and gently
rolling hills. Grafton Lake, Peskawa Lake, Kejimkujik Lake, and Mersey River are examples of
the many freshwater bodies that make up approximately 12% of the park's area. These island-
studded lakes and smooth-flowing rivers are largely a result of the last glaciation (approximately
80,000 to 100,000 years ago) and form a network that has been deemed the best canoeing region
in Canada. Kejimkujik's lakes have a low mineral content and therefore exhibit low productivity
and a high sensitivity to acidity. Acid rain that has fallen in the region has significantly affected
the distribution of fish species in some of the park's lakes. Nevertheless, many of the lakes and
streams are renowned for their speckled trout and for runs of Atlantic salmon. Rare species such
as the northern ribbon snake and southern flying squirrel are among the park's abundant
terrestrial wildlife.
Kejimkujik also has a 22 sq. km seaside adjunct on the south shore of Nova Scotia near Port
Mouton. This area was added to the park in 1988 and is representative of the region's beautiful
Atlantic shoreline. It features extensive brackish ponds, salt marshes and tidal mud flats that
provide ideal habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds (including the endangered piping
plover). Harbour seals, guillemots and cormorants are common in this coastal section of the park. Try these links for more info: |