Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park |
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Panoramic view
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 Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Location in Alberta
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| Location | Kneehill County / Starland County / County of Stettler No. 6, Alberta, Canada |
| Nearest city | Three Hills, Red Deer |
| Area | 34.5 km2 (13.3 sq mi) |
| Established | December 15, 1970 |
| Governing body | Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation |
Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park is a cool provincial park in Central Alberta, Canada. It's located about 103 kilometers (64 miles) southeast of Red Deer. You can find it along the Red Deer River.
This park is known for its amazing badlands landscape. The name "Dry Island" comes from a huge flat area in the middle of the park. This area is 200 meters (656 feet) higher than the Red Deer River. It has never been developed by people, so it still has its original wild prairie grasses.
The park is quite large, covering 34.5 square kilometers (13.3 square miles). Its elevation ranges from 720 meters (2,362 feet) to 875 meters (2,871 feet). This spot was once an ancient buffalo jump. This is where the Cree native people would guide large groups of bison over cliffs. This helped them hunt for their tribes.
The hills here also have unique plants and animals. You won't find them in such large numbers this far east of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. The park is also home to the most important Albertosaurus bone bed in the world. This is a place where many dinosaur bones are found together.
A famous paleontologist named Barnum Brown first found this bone bed in 1910. Later, Dr. Phil Currie rediscovered it in 1997. Digging for bones stopped in August 2005. Dr. Currie then moved to the University of Alberta. Under the university's guidance, digging continued in the summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
There are many exciting activities you can do at Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park:
- Birdwatching: Over 150 types of birds have been seen here! You might spot turkey vultures, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and even peregrine falcons. Look out for colorful mountain bluebirds and belted kingfishers too.
- Camping: If you love sleeping under the stars, there are two campgrounds. They are called Tolman East and Tolman West.
- Canoeing and Kayaking: You can paddle along the Red Deer River. It's a great way to see the park from the water.
- Fishing: The river is full of different fish! You can try to catch rainbow trout, northern pike, or walleye. There are many other types of fish too.
- Scenic Viewing: The views in the park are amazing. You can see the unique badlands and the wide-open prairie. It's a perfect spot for taking photos.
See also
- List of provincial parks in Alberta
- List of Canadian provincial parks
- List of National Parks of Canada
