Largest Beaver Dam in the World
Imagine Travel: Journey to the Largest Beaver Dam
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to choose a place at random and just travel there? What would the journey be like? What kind of transportation would be needed? What would the weather be like? Is it even possible?
The other day I was scanning the news when I came across a very interesting story. It was about the world’s largest beaver dam, located in northern Alberta. The article said that it took approximately thirty-five years to build, fifteen years longer than the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The most interesting aspect of it all? No one knew about it until very recently, when a scientist used a NASA satellite to find it.
The moment I saw this I had the urge to just want to travel there, to embark on a great journey to see this place, even if it really isn’t that spectacular. But there lies the hidden desire in all human beings – the need to explore, to be explorers, to find new lands. If I were to travel to the ‘secret’ beaver dam, I would be only one of a few humans to see this place in person. It’s an intriguing idea.
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How Imagine Travel Works:
· - I pick a start point and an end point.
· - From there I go step by step through the various major cities and landmarks one would go through and see on their journey.
· - Actual directions aren’t posted, as it varies for the individual, and it’s the journey that matters and not exactly what highway has to be taken.
· - If you have any suggestions for other Imagine Travel destinations feel free to message or email me your ideas.
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Imagine Travel:
Start: Vancouver, British Columbia
End: The Large Beaver Dam, Alberta
Total Time: 18 hours driving. Two days hiking .
1) Vancouver, British Columbia: This is the start point of your journey. Vancouver is located on the west coast of British Columbia, and when it’s not raining is one of the most beautiful and lushes places on earth. It also just hosted the Winter Olympics and has many new venues and tourists attractions.
2) Chilliwack, British Columbia: Upon leaving Vancouver, the next major city will be found on the outskirts of the city and in rural Vancouver. Chilliwack doesn’t have much to offer, except for some farmland and some permanent smell of that farmland. But the looming Rockies provide some good backdrops of thoughtfulness as you travel onward on the Trans-Canada Highway.
3) Kamloops, British Columbia: Next you’ll enter the interior of British Columbia. The interior is one of the hottest places in Canada. It is a desert which continues upward from the States and in the summer has temperatures up to forty degrees. A large valley that has mountains on both sides, and numerous lakes in-between the cities, Kamloops and its neighbouring cities is a paradise for people in the summer.
4) Valemount, British Columbia: The last city before entering the province of Alberta, Valemount is nestled in-between the Rocky and Coastal Mountains. It is also home of Mount Robson, the largest peak in the Rocky Mountains. Not more than 1000 people live here; but it has good camping and is a good place to escape in both the summer and the winter.
5) Jasper National Park: is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies with 10,878 square kilometres of mountain wilderness. This park has one of the most advanced system of trails in the world, and is home to the famous Columbia Ice Fields: the only ice fields in the world accessible by road. The views and depth of nature in both winter and summer are a sight to behold.
6) Edmonton, Alberta: Edmonton is the capital of Alberta and is one of the more northern cities in Canada. Home of the hockey team of the Edmonton Oilers, the city is a great industrial city with much night life and activities.
7) Athabasca, Alberta: A rural city one – hundred and fifty kilometres north of Alberta. Located in the valley of the Athabasca River and is home to many fishers, hunters , campers, and golfers. In the winter one of the main attractions that draws people is the abundance of ice fishing.
8) Crow Lake Provincial Park: Hundreds of kilometres north of Athabasca, Crow Lake Provincial Park is a small park that has canoeing and fishing in the summer.
9) Fort Mackay: A first nation community that is one of the fastest growing in Canada. Largest community closest to the Beaver Dam. Situated in the heart of winter, much of the daily life is concerned on the betterment of the community and its progress. Away from the rest of the world, this place has the calm and tranquility.
10) The Largest Beaver Dam in the World: The only way to get here is to take a helicopter ride to Wood Buffalo National Park. Here another two day hike would be needed to reach the Beaver Dam.
· Although the Beaver Dam would be impressive, years later it would the journey that would be most remembered.
o As always: It’s the journey that matters, and not the destination.
