Okanagan Lake Provincial Park

Okanagan Lake Park
Winter morning at Okanagan Lake Provincial Park
Location within British Columbia
Location	Canada
Coordinates	49°41′11″N 119°43′37″W
Area	98 ha (240 acres)
Established	1955
Operator	BC Parks

Okanagan Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1955, the park covers a total area of 98 hectares (240 acres).

History

Okanagan Lake Provincial Park is not only known for its native flora but for the successful introduction of non-native flora. A few years after its creation, thousands of non-native trees were planted in the park, especially in barren slopes. The saplings have grown into large trees, filling the area between the highway and the lake, and providing a haven to several bird species.

Flora

This area is a mix of grasslands, which are usually in the lower sections, and forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir that cover the upper sections of the park. Wildflowers such as chocolate lily and the Columbia lily also grow here.

Fauna

Many colonies of Columbian ground squirrel inhabit the park. There are also the docile and harmless gopher snakes, which often appear near the hiking trails. There is also a good population of bats in the park. There are also amphibian species here, such as the western toad and western painted turtle. The park's birdlife is also rich with birds such as cedar waxwings, quail, northern shafted flickers, western meadowlarks, hummingbirds and the Lewis's woodpecker.

A Columbian ground squirrel, one of the park's residents.

Images

• Winter morning on the South Beach