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| Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park | |
|---|---|
Half Way Bay on Lake Okanagan during Golden Hour in Winter | |
  Location inBritish Columbia | |
 Interactive map of Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park | |
| Location | British Columbia,Canada |
| Nearest city | Kelowna |
| Coordinates | 49°43′42″N119°38′21″W / 49.72833°N 119.63917°W /49.72833; -119.63917 |
| Area | 110.38 km2 (42.62 sq mi) |
| Established | 1973 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park is aprovincial park within theOkanagan-Similkameen Regional District ofBritish Columbia,Canada, focused onthe mountain of the same name and located on the east side ofOkanagan Lake, oppositePeachland and immediately south of the City ofKelowna.[2] The park is one of the largest in the area, covering 110.38 square kilometres (42.62 sq mi). Most of the park is only accessible by foot, horseback, bicycle, or boat as motor vehicle access is restricted toBC Parks staff and technicians servicing the threetelecommunications towers in the park.
The park comprises several trails,[3] campsites (including six marine camp areas), lakes, and large areas ofwilderness. Popular activities includehiking,camping,boating,mountain biking, andhunting (which is permitted).
Between 1975 and 1993, around 84.5 hectares (209 acres) of land now incorporated into Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park was donated by Dr. David Carruthers Murdoch through the Nature Trust of British Columbia.[4][5]
The rugged rocky terrain is habitat formountain goats,white-tailed deer,moose,elk,lynx, andmarten.Coyote are also found in the park. Small but very important species are the blue listedwestern harvest mouse,Nuttall's cottontail (the furthest northerly occurrence) andspotted bat.[6]
Thenorthern alligator lizard andwestern skink can be found under rocks or bark in open wooded areas while the yellow-bellied racer prefers grasslands and open fields.Other reptile species found in the park includewestern painted turtle,rubber boa,gopher snake,western blue racer andwestern rattlesnake.
The park protects habitat for bird species including thewestern grebe andwhite-headed woodpecker.
In 2003, awildfire started in the park nearRattlesnake Island and spread quickly, eventually burning most of the park. The burned trees and other fire-related hazards posed an extreme danger and the park was closed. In 2005, the park was reopened after much cleanup work, though many burned trees still are a significant danger.
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