Point Pelee National Park (; ) is a national park in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada where it extends into Lake Erie. The word is French for 'bald'. Point Pelee consists of a peninsula of land, mainly of marsh and woodland habitats, that tapers to a sharp point as it extends into Lake Erie. Middle Island, also part of Point Pelee National Park, was acquired in 2000 and is just north of the Canada–United States border in Lake Erie. Point Pelee is the southernmost point of mainland Canada,

History

Aboriginal people lived on Point Pelee for many years before European colonization, dating back to at least 6,000 years.

The name was given to the area by Fathers Dollier and Galinée when they passed through the area in 1670.

In the late 1700s, British naval reserves logged the area's white pine for shipbuilding. The Caldwell First Nation Chippewa people, who inhabited Point Pelee, were not signatories of that treaty. However, the Crown did not realize this, and their land was ceded nonetheless. Subsequently, they were forced off their land, and Point Pelee remains unceded Aboriginal land. This has been publicly acknowledged by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Prior to the creation of the park, the Great Lakes Ornithological Club was established to study bird migration. One of the members, Percy A. Taverner, and Canada's first Dominion Ornithologist, recommended Point Pelee be made a national park in 1915. Jack Miner had also pushed for the creation of the park by that time. Point Pelee was made a national park in 1918 at the urging of birdwatchers and hunters. Commercial fishing continued in the park until 1969. Point Pelee was the only Canadian national park to allow hunting until duck hunting was ended in 1989. This site was named "Pointe-Pelée" (meaning "bald point") by French explorers because the eastern side was rocky and had no trees.

Point Pelee was designated a dark-sky preserve in 2006, the first Canadian national park to be designated as such. In March 2006, high winds caused waves that washed away the sand point and all that remained was a platform. In October 2007 the level of Lake Erie dropped enough to reveal the point again extending at least a kilometre out into the water and at least wide with a winding curve shape to it. Since that time the sandy tip continues to shift, grow longer or shorter, or even detach temporarily, from year to year.

Geography

thumb|250px|Pelee Island location

Located in the western parts of the St. Lawrence Lowlands, the park is a sandspit formation that extends into Lake Erie and is up to thick. This sandspit is dominated by till plains which were formed during the last ice age during the advance and retreat of the Wisconsonian ice The marshes began to form about 3,200 years ago, based on carbon dating. Coyotes are also present within this park. Many Carolinian floral species that are rare in Canada occur within the park boundaries. Point Pelee has six different habitats: beach, cedar, savanna, dry forest, wet forest, and freshwater marsh. The park contains more than 750 native plant species,

Its position in Lake Erie modifies its climate, resulting in warmer winter and fall temperatures compared to inland regions, as the lake cools more slowly than the surrounding land though during the spring, temperatures remain cooler than inland areas due to the land warming faster than the lake. As a result, temperatures below are rare, with only 1.9 days where the temperature reaches or falls below .

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Human impact

Development

From a regional perspective, the park is isolated from other natural areas because in Essex County, less than 6% of the native forest cover and 3% of the wetlands remain intact. and is part of a bird and butterfly migration corridor over Lake Erie via Point Pelee and the Lake Erie islands. Over 360 bird species have been recorded in the park. The peak time for bird migration is spring, especially May, when tired migrants make first landfall after their journey north across the lake.

Many birdwatchers from North America and abroad visit the park in May, often staying in the nearby town of Leamington. One attraction, apart from the sheer numbers and variety of birds passing through on migration, is the opportunity to see more northerly breeding species before they move on.

Occurrences

March 2017 marsh fire

On 29 March 2017, Point Pelee's marsh land was involved in a fire that burned over of marsh habitat. The fire lasted 15 hours and was naturally extinguished due to rainfall the following day.

Commemoration

Point Pelee National Park was featured on a high-value ($5) postage stamp, issued in 1983, as part of a series honouring national parks. The park appeared on a stamp that was issued on 15 January 2018, with a $1.20 face value. The issue coincides with the park's centennial year, and is part of a nine-stamp set featuring scenic views across the country.

Images

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Image:Point Pelee looking north.jpg|Point Pelee tip looking North, 2007

Image:Point Pelee looking south.jpg|Point Pelee tip looking South, 2007

Image:Point Pelee April 2008.JPG|Point Pelee looking South, Apr 2008

File:Point Pelee, Looking Southwest, Jan 1 2015.jpg|Point Pelee looking Southwest, Jan 2015

File:Point Pelee Tip SouthWest.jpg|Point Pelee looking Southeast, Jan 2018

Image:Point Pelee looking south in January 2018.jpg|Pelee looking South, Jan 2018

Image:Pt Pelee Marsh Boardwalk.jpg|Boardwalk across a marsh in the park

File:ON Pelee tango7174.jpg|Boardwalk, August

File:Point Pelee Boardwalk, January 2018.jpg|Boardwalk, January

File:Point Pelee National Park shuttle.jpg|One of Point Pelee's shuttles

</gallery>

See also

  • National Parks of Canada
  • List of National Parks of Canada
  • Long Point, Ontario

References

  • Point Pelee National Park official website
  • An article on Point Pelee National Park from The Canadian Encyclopedia