Riding Mountain National Park is a protected area in Manitoba, Canada. It covers 733,400 acres (296,800 hectares) of land in the southwestern part of the province. The town of Wasagaming stands near the southern border of Riding Mountain National Park. The park is part of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, where scientists perform environmental research. The Canadian government established Riding Mountain National Park in 1929.
Prairies cover most of the park and the surrounding region. Glacial deposits called moraines are a common feature of the land. The Manitoba Escarpment rises 1,560 feet (475 meters) above the prairie on the eastern border of the park. The escarpment consists of the Duck, Porcupine, and Riding mountain ranges. A plateau stands at the western end of the park, and a number of lakes are scattered throughout the area.
Fescue grasses grow in the western and central regions of Riding Mountain National Park. Forests in the eastern part of the park consist of such leafy trees as ashes, elms, and oaks, and such evergreens as balsam firs, jack pines, and spruces. The region has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters.
Black bears, cougars, elk, lynxes, moose, and wolves are some of the animals that make their homes in the park. The bird population includes bald eagles and ospreys. Lake trout, northern pike, perch, and whitefish inhabit the park’s waters.
Activities for visitors include boating, camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, and swimming. The park also has a golf course and tennis courts. Indoor accommodations include cabins and hotel and motel rooms in Wasagaming.
