'Riding Mountain National Park' is a
national park in
Manitoba,
Canada. The park sits atop the highest part of the
Manitoba Escarpment. Consisting of a protected area 1,148 sq mi (2,973 km²), the forested parkland stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding prairie farmland. The park is most easily reached by
Highway 10 which passes through the park. The south entrance is at the townsite of
Wasagaming, which is the only commercial centre within the park boundaries.
The park was first protected in 1929 and had much of its public infrastructure created during the
1930s by labourers participating in Canada's
Great Depression relief programs. Much of this early construction survives to this day.
During
World War II it was home to a
Prisoner of War camp which has since been dismantled.
In 1986 Riding Mountain was designated a
biosphere reserve by
UNESCO.
See also
★
Canadian National Parks
★
List of Canadian national parks
★
List of Manitoba parks
External links
★
Parks Canada: Riding Mountain National Park website
★
Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO site)