Maps of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) and Gwaii Haanas National Park
Maps courtesy of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.
Traveling to Sandspit, Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii)
Additional Gwaii Haanas Features:
- About 750,000 seabirds breed in Gwaii Haanas; millions more stop here at some point during spring and fall migrations.
- There are more eagle nests per kilometre of shoreline than anywhere else in Canada and the highest breeding density of Peregrine falcons in the world.
- The only confirmed nesting site in Canada for horned puffins.
- Grey whales are migratory visitors during spring and summer.
- Sightings of humpbacks and minkes are common in Juan Perez Sound.
- The largest breeding colony of Steller sea lions on the west coasts surrounds Cape St. James, at the southern tip of Gwaii Haanas. One third of the province's sea lion population calls the Charlottes home.
- Burnaby Narrows: Studies conducted in 1992 and 1993 determined that this area contained some of the highest levels of living material (called biomass) of any intertidal zone in the world. -the park is working to increase visitor knowledge of these fragile environments, advocating a no-walk policy for the intertidal zones.
- At least 39 distinct subspecies of plants and animals in the archipelago, including seven mammals, three birds and fifteen species of the stickleback fish are found nowhere else in the world.
- The Haida Gwaii black bear has developed exceptionally strong jaws in order to take advantage of the abundance of hard shelled sea creatures available - they are the largest black bears in North America.
- Endemic bird species include a small saw-whet owl and unique forms of Steller's Jay and Hairy woodpecker.
- Watchmen are posted at the five most frequently visited village and cultural sites in Gwaii Haanas from May to September.
