Nature and science

Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
© Parks Canada

Nestled within the East Coast Boreal Natural Region of Parks Canada’s world-renowned network of national parks, Akami-Uapishkᵁ–KakKasuak–Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve protects approximately 10,700 square kilometres of diverse and pristine wilderness. As Canada’s newest and 46th national park, it conserves important cultural landscapes that hold deep significance for the Innu, Inuit, and other Indigenous communities of the region.

At the heart of the park reserve rise the Mealy Mountains—a dramatic range whose rugged peaks descend into lush boreal forests that roll eastward to meet the icy waters of the Labrador Sea. This is a landscape defined by wild rivers, breathtaking waterfalls, and untouched watersheds. The White Bear, North, and English Rivers, teeming with Atlantic salmon and trout, wind through the forest, offering anglers and nature lovers alike an unforgettable experience.

The Wunderstrand
© Parks Canada

The park is also home to the Wunderstrands, a stunning 50-kilometre stretch of remote sandy beach that lines the coast—a rare and spectacular feature in this northern environment.

Mealy Mountain Caribou
© Parks Canada

Akami-Uapishkᵁ–KakKasuak–Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve plays a vital role in the conservation of wildlife, protecting much of the habitat used by the threatened Mealy Mountains caribou herd, including key coastal and offshore island ranges. The boreal forests stretching north of Sandwich Bay and along the southern shore of Lake Melville are home to wolves, black bears, marten, foxes, and caribou. In the southern reaches of the park, expansive wetlands offer crucial nesting and stopover habitat for migratory birds, including ducks and geese.

A great read

To delve deeper into the traditional knowledge and rich cultural history of the Mealy Mountains, explore the 2006 edition (Vol. 30, No. 2) of Them Days magazine, titled Stories of the Mealy Mountains – Akami-Uapishkᵁ. This special issue features stories from those who have lived on and stewarded this land for generations. Copies are available at Themdays.com.