Sandbanks Provincial Park (Newfoundland)

Sandbanks Provincial Park is a provincial park on the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located on the southwest coast, approximately 150 km from the Trans-Canada Highway near the town of Burgeo, less than three hours from Corner Brook. The park is known for its expansive sandy beaches and dunes.[2][3]

Sandbanks Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Looking down Second Beach, Sandbanks Provincial Park, Burgeo, NL
LocationNewfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Nearest cityBurgeo
Coordinates47°36′26″N 57°38′50″W[1]
Area2.32 km2 (0.90 sq mi)
Established1985 (1985)
Governing bodyGovernment of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry, and Innovation, Parks Division
Websitehttps://www.gov.nl.ca/tcar/parks/p-sp/

Covering an area of 2.32 square kilometres (0.90 sq mi), the park has over seven kilometres (4.3 mi) of beach and several inland hiking trails through bog and forested area.[4] One path leads to a lookout at Cow Head.[3]

Biology and ecology

The sand dunes are easily eroded. Visitors are encouraged to stay on designated trails.[5]

Flora

Sandbanks is home to Lathyrus japonicus, otherwise known as the beach pea.[5] The fragile sand dunes are covered with beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata).

Fauna

The piping plover, a near-threatened species of bird, nests on the beaches and in the sand dunes of the park.[6] The park and surrounding area is an important bird migration route.[3]

Notable visitors

Farley Mowat, who lived in Burgeo during the 1960s and wrote several books about the area, often visited the park with his dogs.[7]

Painter Christopher Pratt was a frequent visitor[8] and depicted the beach in the painting West of Sandbanks: Endless Summer.[9]

Newfoundland adventurer, author, and YouTuber Justin Barbour has also spent time at Sandbanks.[10]

See also

References

  1. "Sandbank Provincial Park". Geographical Names database. Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  2. Catto, Norm (2002). "Anthropogenic pressures on coastal dunes, southwestern Newfoundland". The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien. 46 (1): 17–32. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.2002.tb00728.x. ISSN 1541-0064.
  3. "Sandbanks Provincial Park". Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  4. "Sandbanks Provincial Park". Protected Planet. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  5. "Sandbanks Provincial Park , Newfoundland and Labrador". www.explorenewfoundlandandlabrador.com. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  6. "Stewardship Association of Municipalities | Town of Burgeo". stewardship. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  7. "Farley Mowat remembered by Burgeo resident | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  8. "The Porcupine's Quill | Book Listing | Thoughts on Driving to Venus". porcupinesquill.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  9. "Christopher Pratt - West of Sandbanks: Endless Summer, 2012". Arthur. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  10. "What a solo adventurer can offer as advice during a pandemic | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
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