VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, MINNESOTA

What makes a national park? Year 2000 our nation's fifty four national parks protect for the American people - and the world - wonderful and evocative scenery and varied natural systems that represent the singular and diverse character of our nation's rich natural heritage. They provide a setting in which we can connect with our cultural roots & history. One of our newest parks, Voyageurs National Park celebrated it's 25th anniversary that year. Voyageurs has 4 big lakes and over 500 pine-covered islands which are a product of the leveling action of the glaciers. We can understand the course of the glaciers in the vistas of deep blue water that contrast so obviously with the green boreal forest and dark surfaces of rocks & ridges. It is the only unit of the national park system that is wholly within the Artic watershed of Hudsons Bay. The native people of the north and the first Europeans - the fur traders & their paddlers, the French Canadian voyageurs - explored and settled this part of North America using the waters as roads, and canoes as transport. In such ways, we share much of our natural and cultural history with the people of Canada. The boundary between Canada and the U.S. in this area - which is also the northern boundary of the park for over 50 miles - is defined by international treaty as the historic route of the voyageurs. As a water-based national park, Voyageurs provides a window for current park visitors into what it means to depend on water for transportation. The park has fewer than 8 miles of paved roads in it's 218,000 acres - so our access today is by boat, canoe or kayak in summer and by snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe in the winter. The beaver the fur traders came to exploit have returned. They seem to be everywhere and can be watched - swimming, building dams, stripping trees and rearing their young throughout the park. Over time, their dams and tree-felling will open meadows, build soil, and contribute to ecological succession - just as they did when the Voyageurs was the water route of the fur traders. You do not need to have a boat to enjoy this wonderful park and area around it. Hopefully I will be able to interest you in a visit to this wonderful area between Minneapolis/St. Paul and International Falls, Minnesota. When coming in from the south the Mall of America (Bloomington) with it's basement aquarium and large clear tunnels you walk through as fish swim all around you is a must see!! Everling has the Hocky Hall of Fame worth a stop on your way north to the little (450 pop.) town of Orr. The last town before you enter the park built a beautiful visitor's center with information on the park, fishing camps, etc. Do stop there hopefully about 3 or 4pm getting all the information of the area you can & walking the Bog. Then driving the 13 miles west to a logging road that leads you 7 miles into the woods where the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary is open at 5 pm to dusk Memorial Day - Labor Day. Here you will see live wild bears coming to eat the fruit & breads the volunteers put out on tree stumps like Vince Schute did so many years ago. Cubs running up the trees & old bears everywhere. I worked (2) 10 hour days a week at the Orr Area Information Center., driving down about 30 miles from the 1st park visitors center -Ash River where the housing & camping for park volunteer's were located. Most of my day was telling people that came there to see the wild bears what to go and do in the area till they opened at 5pm. Do not miss this stop! The last of August when the berries in the forest are gone and the bears need to tank up for hibernation there may be 40 to 50 bears coming in to get the free food. I would love to tell you about Vince Schute and how this all came about but they will tell you that while you watch from the big wide open viewing deck. Or Google - History of the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary. Remember - always ask questions. You find out so much that way. I will tell you more next time. Jeanette