Close To The Edge Provincial Park and Protected Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Close To The Edge Provincial Park and Protected Area |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Close To The Edge Provincial Park and Protected Area
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Fraser-Fort George, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nearest city | Prince George |
| Area | 702 ha (1,730 acres) |
| Established | January 25, 2001 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
Close To The Edge Provincial Park and Protected Area is a special place in British Columbia, Canada. It is made up of a provincial park and a protected area. This area helps to keep important natural features and wildlife safe.
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What Makes This Park Special?
This park is famous for protecting an amazing natural wonder: the Close To The Edge cave. This cave is incredibly deep. It has the deepest shaft (a vertical drop) in Canada, going down 255 meters! It is also the third-deepest cave in Canada overall, reaching 472 meters below the surface.
How Was the Cave Discovered?
The Close To The Edge cave was first found in 1985. However, it took many years for explorers to reach the very bottom. They finally made it to the deepest part in 2001. Imagine exploring a cave that deep!
Protecting More Caves and Wildlife
The area next to the park, called the Protected Area, was created on January 25, 2001. It helps to protect other caves, like Bluebell Resurgence Cave and Twin Falls Resurgence. While these caves are not as deep as Close To The Edge, they are still important.
Both the park and the protected area also provide a safe home for many animals. You might find caribou, moose, black bears, and grizzly bears living here. Protecting their habitat helps these animals thrive.
Where Is Close To The Edge Located?
Close To The Edge Provincial Park and Protected Area is found in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Specifically, it is in the Dezaiko Range. This location is about 160 kilometers northeast of the city of Prince George.
The total size of this special area is 702 hectares. To give you an idea, 414 hectares make up the Provincial Park, and the remaining 288 hectares are part of the Protected Area.
Visiting the Park: What to Expect
If you plan to visit Close To The Edge, you should know that there are no special visitor facilities. This means you won't find campgrounds, picnic areas, or visitor centers.
Access to the park is mostly by logging roads. After the roads, you'll need to use unmaintained trails. These trails are used by horses and people on foot. It's a true wilderness experience!
