Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
sects against which you are defenseless. Second only to the black fly are prolific mosqui-
toes. If it's any consolation, every animal from ant to moose is tormented equally by
these creatures, so they're not picking on you.
But what can be most troubling to those unaccustomed to them are North American
Leeches (also called freshwater leeches or medicinal leeches) found in many freshwater
lakes, slow moving streams and marshes. These 2in-long parasites usually spend their
days chilling out under rocks or leaves in the cool, mucky bottoms, but water disturb-
ances (such as a splash of diving in or stepping out into the water for a swim), are a bit
akin to a dinner bell and out they swim looking for grub. While it can be very disturbing
being a meal for a leech, the bites are painless and the critters carry no diseases. If you do
get bitten, you can opt either to let the leech eat its fill and drop off, or try to release it's
suction with a fingernail or sharp flat object before gently pulling it off. Salt or insect re-
pellent can work to suffocate the leech.
Plants
Although Atlantic Canada presents some tree diversity in its southern reaches with a mix
of birch, maple and ash, vast areas of forest are completely dominated by spruce as you
head north. And at some point even those homogenous forests give way to soggy tundra
that stretches to the Arctic. Surprisingly the area can be rich with abundant wildflowers
during the short growing season.
The yellow dandelion-like flowers of the coltsfoot may be the first ones to come out
each spring, but far more attention is given to the region's delightful midsummer orchid
displays, including showy lady's slipper, which may carpet entire boggy areas. Blue
lupines seem to bloom everywhere, and many other varieties and colors can be found.
The most common shrubs, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador, are those in the
heath family, including blueberries, cranberries and other delicious berries that grow in
profusion in August. Wild roses bloom along the coasts from late June through August.
Perhaps the most curious plant is the odd lichen called caribou moss. Growing in such
a dense spongy carpet that other plants cannot get a toehold, this pale greenish moss may
be the most dominant plant in the northern forests. It is an important food source for cari-
bou, hence its name, and is often mixed with seal meat to vary the diets of sled dogs.
FABULOUS FOSSILS
Kids will be especially intrigued by the region's fossils, many of which are on dis-
play in various parks and museums. They include fossil footprints, dinosaur bones,
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