First published: 24/09/14.

Wojciech Fedoruk 1.5

Miguasha National Park

Miguasha National Park (Inscribed)

Miguasha National Park by Els Slots

The Miguasha National Park is the smallest national park in Canada, covering small part of sea shore with attached forest on the southwestern part of Gaspe Peninsula. It was created to protect one of the most important fossil sites in the world.

Entering the World Heritage Center tourists have three options - walk through the beach and the forest (approx. 7 CAD) or entering the museum (approx. 10 CAD) or of course both. I dare say that walk through the park is not worth money spent on it. The forest walk does not provide with any interesting views and unless you would like to repeat lesson of natural history (placed on several tables along the path) or look for mushrooms, you may skip it. The beach is a bit more interesting, although the chance to find any fossils there is virtually zero. It is just nice cliff and good (but common in Canada) sea view.

In contrary, I definitely recommend visiting the museum. We may know much more about Miguasha history and why the site is so important. In fact, it is the most abundant devonian fossil site on Earth. In the museum you may find great examples of well-preserved fossils found in Miguasha and, to some extent, taken from other places. I was particularly interested in tetrapods, fossils documenting one of the most important milestones in evolution of life - coming from water to land.

Although nice, I found Miguasha much less atractive than other Eastern Canadian fossil site - Joggins Fossil Cliffs. The tourists not interested in fossils may be a bit disappointed by this WHS.

Comments

No comments yet.

Log in to post a comment