South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park, National park in British Columbia, Canada.
South Okanagan-Similkameen is a national park in British Columbia covering about 27,300 hectares of semi-arid desert and sagebrush grasslands mixed with ponderosa pine valleys. The landscape combines open grassland and wooded areas that together form a rare ecosystem found nowhere else in Canada.
Creation of the park began in 2003 when Parks Canada and British Columbia launched a formal review process to establish a national park reserve in the South Okanagan region. This process led to recognition of the area's exceptional ecological importance.
The Syilx First Nation has deep roots in this land and works with Parks Canada today to protect and care for the region. Visitors can sense this living connection between people and place through the ongoing conservation efforts visible throughout the park.
Visitors should come prepared with supplies and equipment since the area is quite remote with limited facilities and amenities. Hiking and birdwatching are popular activities, but expect changeable weather and uneven terrain in many areas.
This area contains one-third of all wildlife species at risk in British Columbia and represents the only semi-arid shrubland ecosystem in Canada. This concentration of rare and endangered species makes this a global hotspot for conservation and biodiversity.
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