St Lawrence Islands National Park

St Lawrence Islands National Park (established in 1914, area 24 km2), is one of Canada's smallest NATIONAL PARKS, comprised of 26 islands and about 90 islets scattered for 80 km along the ST LAWRENCE RIVER from Brockville to Kingston, Ont. St Lawrence Islands National park also has mainland holdings at Landon Bay, Mallorytown Landing and Jones Creek.

Natural History

Most of the park islands are the summits of ancient hills of the Frontenac Axis, a strip of Precambrian granite connecting the Canadian SHIELD with the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. After the retreat of glaciers, the hills were flooded by the newly formed St Lawrence River, resulting in the THOUSAND ISLANDS landscape.

From barren, lichen-covered rock to lush, deciduous woodlands, each island has its own character, and collectively they support a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life. Many species are typical of regions far to the south and occur nowhere else in Canada, such as the pitch pine (Pinus rigida). A short walk across one of these rocky islands can take you from a hardwood forest typical of areas much further south to moist, shady slopes where northern species flourish. A few of the islands are made of limestone, resulting in an appearance and a mix of species different from that of the granite isles.

Human History

There is evidence of human use of the islands dating back thousands of years. The islands are the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (also known as the IROQUOIS) and later the Mississauga who hunted and fished in the area. Explorers, fur traders and missionaries passed this way, but the scant soils did not attract settlers until the late 1770s, when LOYALISTS took up land. During the War of 1812 the area was a vital military route. Later it became a haven for boaters and cottagers. In 1904, as more islands became cottage sites, local residents urged the federal government to reserve for the public 9 islands designated for sale. Together with land donated by the Mallory family that same year, these parcels of land formed the nucleus of the park. In 1914 it was formally established as a national park. St Lawrence Islands National Park is a key regional partner of the Frontenac Arch BIOSPHERE RESERVE since its designation in 2002.

Facilities

A boat landing, picnic facilities, visitor centre and nature trail are situated at Mallorytown Landing, with additional trails at Jones Creek. Docking facilities and campsites are available on several park islands.

Author MAXWELL W. FINKELSTEIN

Suggested Reading
Don Ross, Discovering the Thousand Islands (2001).

Links to Other Sites
St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada
This illustrated Parks Canada website describes the ecology, geography, and history of St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada

Thousand Islands Life
A nicely illustrated website dedicated to past and present life in the Thousand Islands region. Offers full text articles from previous issues, historical features, and more.

Thousand Islands-Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve
A lengthy report that details the biological signficance and plans for managing the unique biosphere reserve that includes the Frontenac Arch, a continental scale landform that enables the migration of flora and fauna through the combined natural barrier created by the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence River. From the Canadian Biosphere Research Network.

Frontenac Bird Studies
The website for Frontenac Bird Studies, an avian monitoring and research organization that focuses on bird life in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve region. Features details about the natural history of selected avian species found in this area.

Explore the Arch
A colourful guide to the numerous recreational opportunities found throughout the scenic Frontenac Arch Biosphere region.

Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve
A description of the land use history, geological history, and physical characteristics of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve region.