Pukaskwa National Park

Pukaskwa National Park is located in the heart of Canada's boreal forest ecozone. Common tree species in this area include black spruce, white spruce, jack pine, trembling aspen, Eastern white cedar, and white birch. Many plants that grow inside Pukaskwa National Park are typically found in Arctic alpine regions, including encrusted saxifrage, birds-eye primrose, and butterwort. Pukaskwa is home to the northernmost populations of Pitcher's thistle in Canada, with four colonies of the plant existing and self-sustaining on the coastal dune areas within the park. Other rare plant species include Franklin's lady-slipper and mountain huckleberry. Pukaskwa is also home to numerous lichen and moss species, including sphagnum, reindeer moss, and lungwort species. ==Fauna==

Black bears, moose, beavers, peregrine falcons, river otters, lynx and timber wolves are found in this park. The park is also home to bald eagles. There was also a small population of woodland caribou but their numbers declined from 30 caribou in the 1970s to about four in 2012 mainly due to wolf predation. In early 2017, after previous failures to locate any remaining caribou, researchers turned to advanced thermal imaging technology to survey the area for caribou. This survey revealed caribou are now extirpated from this park. Cougars may also be in the park, but numbers are not yet known. ==Climate==

The park has a humid continental climate (Dfb) under the Köppen climate classification that is strongly influenced by Lake Superior. Rivers in the park include the: • Pukaskwa River • Cascade River • North Swallow River • Swallow River • White River • Willow River The Pic River enters Lake Superior just north of the park. The highest point in the park is the peak of Tip Top Mountain which rises to 641 meters / 2106 feet. Thousand year old rock structures known as Pukaskwa Pits which were created by the original inhabitants of this area can be found on many of the park's cobblestone beaches. The most recent State of the Park Report for Pukaskwa National Park was published in 2008. ==See also==