Prince Edward Island National Park is a protected area of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The park extends about 30 miles (48 kilometers) along the island’s northern coast and covers 6,700 acres (2,700 hectares) of land. The Gulf of St. Lawrence is directly to the north. The park includes the house that inspired the famous novel Anne of Green Gables (1908), by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It also has a spectacular system of dunes on Greenwich, a peninsula that separates St. Peters Bay from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The government of Canada established Prince Edward Island National Park in 1937.
Sandy beaches, coastal dunes, and sandstone cliffs are common features of the park. There are also some forested areas and wetlands. Plants in the park include bayberry, seaside goldenrod, marram grass, and wild rose. Coyotes, foxes, muskrats, raccoons, skunks, and weasels are some of the animals that live in the park. Bird species such as the great blue heron, piping plover, osprey, and common tern also can be observed. The region has mild summers and cold winters, with annual temperatures ranging from around 18 to 65 °F (–8 to 19 °C).
Visitors to the park may participate in such activities as bird watching, camping, canoeing, hiking, and windsurfing. The park also offers educational programs in the summer. Attractions include Green Gables, Covehead Lighthouse, and Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site. Dalvay-by-the-Sea is a Victorian inn where guests can dine or stay overnight.
See also Montgomery, Lucy Maud .
