Northern British Columbia - Fabulous Western Canada: Capture the Excitement of the Great West! - page 112

5 Hot Springs Island, a Haida heritage site. © Parks Canada

Moresby Island

All modes of expression are represent-
ed here: everything from totem poles,
sculptures and drawings to fabrics and
basketry, not to mention jewellery made
with precious metals.

The Gwaii Haanas National Park
Reserve cannot be reached by
land. This park, located at the southern
tip of the archipelago, is home to many
unusual sights, each more remark-
able than the last. First, there is Hot
Springs Island, a paradise for anyone
who enjoys a good soak. Then there's
Laskeek Bay, frequented by dolphins
and whales. Ninstints, a former Haida
village on the tip of the island of Sgan
Gwaii, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It boasts the largest collection of totem
poles and Aboriginal-built structures in
the Queen Charlotte Islands, and there
is something unreal and mystical about
the location itself.

In the opposite direction, 1km north, is
a local curiosity called Balance Rock, a
bolder perched at the centre of an at-
tractive pebble beach.

Located 4km south of Skidegate, Queen
Charlotte City is a pleasant coastal
village. The atmosphere is very relaxed
here, and the streets are fi lled with
young people during the summer sea-
son. The main attractions here are the
ocean, the forest, the wildlife (eagles are
everywhere) and exploring the coasts
in the footsteps of the Haida Nation.