Wawaskesy National Park

Wawaskesy National Park was created in southeastern Alberta on May 31, 1922, north and west of the South Saskatchewan River and north of Medicine Hat. Named from a Cree word for antelope, it grew out of the Canyon Antelope Reserve established in 1915 and covered 65 square kilometres. It was one of several prairie parks established to protect and rebuild dangerously low pronghorn and bison populations. As pronghorn herds recovered in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, its purpose declined. The park closed on June 24, 1938; the land later reverted to Alberta, returned to Canada in 1941 for military use, and in 2003 part became part of the Suffield National Wildlife Area.

Alberta · Canada