| Strathcona-Westmin Provincial Park | |
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 Interactive map of Strathcona-Westmin Provincial Park | |
| Location | Vancouver Island,British Columbia,Canada |
| Nearest city | Gold River |
| Coordinates | 49°34′41″N125°35′41″W / 49.57806°N 125.59472°W /49.57806; -125.59472 |
| Area | 3,327.5 ha (12.848 sq mi) |
| Designation | Class B Provincial Park |
| Established | 14 March 1987 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
| Website | BC Parks Strathcona-Westmin |
Strathcona-Westmin Provincial Park is aClass Bprovincial park located at the southern extremity ofButtle Lake onVancouver Island inBritish Columbia,Canada. The park was separated out fromStrathcona Provincial Park byBC Parks in 1987 so that mining operations could proceed within park boundaries. Strathcona-Westmin is expected to be reabsorbed into Strathcona Provincial Park once mining operations cease.[1]
Strathcona-Westmin hosts a densetemperate rainforest ecosystem set in the rugged terrain of the centralVancouver Island Ranges. Much like the surrounding park, Strathcona-Westmin is a popular destination forhiking,backcountry camping, andfishing.[1]
The park also featuresMyra Falls, a tieredwaterfall that empties into Buttle Lake, andUpper Myra Falls, a punchbowl waterfall located 6 km (3.7 mi) further upstream.[2]
Myra Falls Operation is anunderground mine located within a largestratiform basin in the centre of Strathcona-Westmin Provincial Park. It is owned by Nyrstar Myra Falls Ltd., a subsidiary of European mining companyNyrstar.[3] Mining operations were first approved by theMinistry of Mines and Petroleum Resources on 6 April 1970.[4] The mine started as two smallopen pits, but quickly became anunderground mine with several expansions made since 1980.[4]
The mine producesore containingcopper,lead,zinc,gold, andsilver. It has an annual capacity of 1.4 million tonnes of ore.[3]
Media related toStrathcona-Westmin Provincial Park at Wikimedia Commons
