Bow Valley Provincial Park, Provincial park in Kananaskis District, Canada.
Bow Valley Provincial Park sits where the Bow and Kananaskis Rivers meet, spreading across rolling hills and river valleys. The landscape is shaped by forests and diverse habitats that support local wildlife.
Bow Valley Provincial Park was established in 1959 in the bend of the Bow River at its confluence with the Kananaskis River. It is one of several parks within the Kananaskis Country system. The park borders Banff National Park to the west.
The park's name comes from the Bow River, whose Cree name refers to the reeds used for making bows. The Many Springs area is a place to look for yellow lady's slipper, butterwort and elephant's head, plants that grow in the damp ground kept unfrozen by the springs.
Visitors need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass to park within the park, which supports its upkeep and protection. This pass requirement helps maintain the facilities and conservation work throughout the year.
The small blind aquatic isopod Salmasellus steganothrix, normally a cave dweller, lives under rocks in the lake at Many Springs. The spring water stays near 7 °C year-round and keeps part of the lake ice-free in winter, which draws beavers, and its sodium chloride creates salt licks for wildlife.
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