The National Park of the same name is located on the north coast of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s largest island province in the Atlantic Ocean. With its 22 square kilometers, the Prince Edward Island National Park is the second smallest national park in Canada. With this peculiarity, it is only beaten by the St. Lawrence Island National Park with 9 square kilometers. Still, Prince Edward Island National Park is a popular tourist destination with its contrasting landscape, red sandstone cliffs, white sandy beaches and beautiful coastal sunsets. The mild climate and summer water temperatures of over 20 degrees Celsius also contribute to this. The huge sand dunes and the contrasting deep blue of the sea are fascinating.
From Europe to the beautiful nature of the Prince Edward Island National Park
Not far from the Prince Edward Island National Park is Charlottetown, the capital of the Atlantic Province of Prince Edward Island. Overseas holidaymakers first fly to the airports of Halifax, Nova Scotia or Toronto, Ontario. From there, the flight connections to Charlottetown Airport start. PEI National Park is only 15 miles from Charlottetown. It ranges from Cavendish to Dalvay. The special thing about Dalvay-by-the-Sea are, in addition to the Victorian-style architecture, the sand dunes and the red sandstone cliffs. Dalvay Beach is the furthest to the east and the starting point for long hikes. The national park offers forty kilometers of the most beautiful ocean beaches for relaxing walks. Experienced hikers can also explore the more difficult areas of the national park.
The yellow-footed plover in the “Important Bird Area”
The endangered yellow-footed plover (Charadriidae) is particularly protected in the National Park. It is a rare coastal bird with sand-colored camouflage, yellow-orange legs and feet, and a short beak. Its nesting sites are the dune areas of the national park. The rare bird has its place in nature conservation worldwide. As the Prince Edward Island National Park is doing its best to preserve the yellow-footed plover, it was named an “Important Bird Area”. The National Park is home to a total of 300 species of birds. Other habitats worth protecting in the national park are the freshwater wetlands and the salt marshes.
Green Gables House in Cavendish
The Prince Edward Island National Park gained additional international fame through the children’s book “Anne on Green Gables” by the Canadian author LM Montgomery. The setting for the story of the orphan Anne is a 19th century farmhouse in Cavendish, which is a magnet for many tourists. The popular Cavendish Beach is also a magnet for visitors. Unfortunately, this beautiful, wide beach has become very commercial. In summer it is advisable for visitors who want to avoid the hustle and bustle to switch to the western end of the national park. In the middle of the park is the quieter Brackley Beach, also with sand dunes as a natural backdrop. Bathers encounter pleasant water temperatures of around 22 degrees Celsius in the summer months of July and August.
The PEI National Park – a romantic place in the middle of the sea
Many visitors liked “Orby Head” with the red sandstone cliffs and the fantastic sunsets. Hiking through the sand dunes and the species-rich flora and fauna of the Prince Edward Island National Park and water sports are also a special experience. A nice alternative to accommodation in a beach hotel is the picturesque, quiet Stanhope Campground, a campsite close to the beach and well-known hiking routes. Sometimes the calm is interrupted by a flock of flying Canadian wild geese on their way south. You can discover a lot on the child-friendly sandy beaches and explore the secrets of the sea. The lighthouses along the coast are reminiscent of seafaring and the mystery of the sea.
Did you know that …
- the diverse habitats in Prince Edward Island National Park provide a home for a variety of plants and animals, including the endangered Gulf of Saint Lawrence Aster and the critically endangered yellow-footed plover?
- In 1998, six kilometers of the Greenwich Peninsula were added to Prince Edward Island National Park to protect unique dune formations, rare plants and animals, as well as archaeological finds that go back over 10,000 years?
- Prince Edward Island National Park is one of the most visited parks in Canada, concentrated in July and August?
- the early Aborigines (First Nation) constitute the first cultural group to inhabit Prince Edward National Park? Archaeological excavations have found traces left by the most important cultures that have existed there over the past 10,000 years.
the first European settlers to reach what is now Prince Edward Island National Park came from France in 1720? - there are seven guarded beaches in Prince Edward Island National Park?
- there are many scenic hiking trails in the park, each with their own unique features? The paths differ in length, as well as in sights and sounds.
- the poison ivy can be found in certain areas in Prince National Park, usually near dunes? This 3-petalled green plant can cause mild pain when touched and a very itchy rash when repeatedly touched.
- “Parks Canada” has been monitoring the population of the yellow-footed plover in Prince Edward Island National Park since 1982?
- there are 42 species of dragonflies and dragonflies in Prince Edward Island National Park?