Anhluut'ukwsim Laxmihl Angwinga'asanskwhl Nisga'a, Provincial park in Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, Canada.
Anhluut'ukwsim Laxmihl Angwinga'asanskwhl Nisga'a, also known as Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park, is a provincial park in the northwestern corner of British Columbia, Canada, protecting a large field of hardened lava formed by past volcanic activity. The lava field sits alongside the Nass River valley and is surrounded by forests, lakes, and rivers that contrast with the dark volcanic rock.
Around 1700, a volcanic eruption buried several Nisga'a villages under lava and ash, killing many people and reshaping the Nass River valley. The park was established in 1992 to protect this landscape and to honor the memory of those who died.
The park's name in the Nisga'a language translates roughly to "the memorial lava bed of the Nisga'a people", and signs throughout the park are written in both English and Nisga'a. Walking the marked trails, visitors can read panels that explain how each part of the landscape carries meaning for the Nisga'a, who manage the park together with BC Parks.
The park is far from major cities, so arriving by car is the most practical option, as public transport to the area is limited. The lava field terrain is rough and uneven, so sturdy footwear is strongly advised before setting out on any of the trails.
When the lava flowed into the valley, it blocked the course of the Nass River and created a lake that still exists today. That lake was not carved by glaciers or fed by rainfall alone but formed entirely by the movement of volcanic rock.
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