Nisga'A Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park

Here is a day trip I took with my sister and brother-in-law when I was in Terrace in early June. You will perhaps recall that in an earlier post I showed black bears that I had seen north of Terrace on highway 113. On that same trip we also saw many sights from the Nisga'a Lava bed Memorial Park. The sign welcomes travellers and offers a self guided tour with stops of interest along the way.

 

This is a picture that I took from the passenger seat of the car, the scenery if just spectacular.

 

We stopped at Lava Lake and I took this picture from the picnic site at the north end of the lake.

 

There are small lava deposits dotted throughout the shallows near the picnic site and each supports a small tuft of greenery.

 

Here is a picture of the lava beds near Vetter Falls, it is like a moonscape. This is one of the marked stops and there is a short walk to the falls.

 

The water is high and the falls are quite spectacular.

 

There is a legend about the "phantom fish" that go over these falls and into the watershed.

A little further north we stopped at this information area.

 

The volcanic eruption happened in the mid 1700's and covered over 39 square kilometres of land covering villages and killing over 2,000 people; in some places the lava bed is 12 meters deep.

 

 

Even after more than two centuries the lava beds are only supporting a relatively small amount of vegetation compared to the surrounding areas.

 

Wild roses and a few succulents dot the rough rocky area.

 

 

There are log molds that were created where the lava set trees on fire but cooled quickly leaving a hole in the lava, sometimes leaving the impression of the bark behind.

 

This rock is sharp and treacherous, there is a path and boardwalk to guide visitors.

 

 

Here and there are stunted trees.

 

Next we turned toward Gitwinksihlkw (formerly Cannon City).

The village now has a vehicle bridge but at one time was accessible only by this suspension bridge. I wasn't sure I wanted to venture across, it is a long way down to the river (Nass) below and the water looked dangerous to me. 

I had a good look at the structure and then was brave enough to go across only after my brother in law and sister had pretested it!

 



We spotted this fox, looking very lean after a long winter.

 

 

Here are a couple of pictures of the totem poles that flank both ends of the bridge to the community.

 

On the way back down the highway we stopped at Tumbling Creek.

In the parking lot we encountered this strange beast, probably an inch and a half long (not including the antennae). 

One last look at the scenery!

 

In the painting department I have finished another painting inspired by my trip to Italy last year. It is a watercolour and is called "Bella Sera".  It is of set in the town of Asolo in the Veneto region of Italy.

 

 

Thanks for dropping by, happy Wednesday, until next time,

 

Gillian.