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Park geography

A structured mapping of elevation ranges, wetland expanses, and boreal landscape geography

Wood Buffalo National Park Geographic Profile, Mapped Boundaries, and Environmental Features

This geographic profile tracks the complex landscape of Wood Buffalo National Park across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The record documents the park boundary across 44,741 square kilometers, tracing terrain from the Caribou Mountains and Ninishith Hills to riparian networks along the Peace and Slave Rivers.

Related tags

Boreal ForestWorld Heritage SiteDark-Sky PreserveWetlandsDelta

Canada's vast northern wilderness protecting the world's largest wood bison herd and a UNESCO World Heritage delta

Wood Buffalo National Park

Wood Buffalo National Park is the largest national park in Canada and the second-largest national park in the world, spanning 44,741 square kilometers across northeastern Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories. Established in 1922 to protect the world's largest free-roaming herd of wood bison, this vast wilderness area is larger than Switzerland and encompasses a remarkable diversity of ecosystems, from boreal forest and grasslands to one of the world's largest freshwater deltas. The park is globally significant as the nesting site of the endangered whooping crane and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for the biological diversity of the Peace-Athabasca Delta and its wild bison population. In 2013, it became Canada's largest dark-sky preserve, protecting nocturnal ecology while offering visitors extraordinary views of the northern lights.

Location
Canada
Park type
National park
Established
1922
Area
44,741 km²
Highest point
945 m
Wood Buffalo National Park Protected Area
Location overview

Regional position across Alberta and the Northwest Territories

Wood Buffalo National Park Geographic Location and Regional Setting

Wood Buffalo National Park is situated in Canada, extending across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The interior territory features a contiguous mainland footprint under dual regional jurisdictions.
Countries
Canada
Regions
Alberta, Northwest Territories
Primary location
Northwest Territories
Geographic setting
Inland
Boundary and coordinates

Vast park outline with geographic scale

Wood Buffalo National Park mapped boundary and 44,741 km² area

Wood Buffalo National Park pairs mapped geometry with a recorded 44,741 km² extent. Centre, coordinate limits, spans, and perimeter can communicate its scale where measured, while the outline remains contextual rather than a legal survey.
Pigeon | © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boundary area
45,550.4 km²
Boundary perimeter
1,280 km
Northernmost point
60.6909° N
Southernmost point
58.0772° N
Easternmost point
111.0357° W
Westernmost point
115.6024° W
Geographic centre
59.3565° N, 113.2581° W
North–south span
291.2 km
East–west span
259.5 km
Wood Buffalo National Park
Elevation and terrain

Mixed relief profiles and recorded internal hydrological formations

Wood Buffalo National Park Terrain, Elevation Range, and Named Natural Features

Recorded elevation metrics outline a mixed vertical range from one hundred eighty-three to nine hundred forty-five meters. Linked feature cards provide names, types, measurements, and spatial relationships for interior streams, lakes, and rivers.
Minimum elevation
183 m
Maximum elevation
945 m
Highest point
945 m

Selected named natural features

Streams

Frog Creek

Lakes

Sass Lake

Streams

Edra Creek

Streams

Murdock Creek

Streams

Vermilion River

Streams

Sanderson Creek

Environmental setting

Boreal climate, mixed relief, and major water systems across protected terrain

Wood Buffalo National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting

Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and seasonal profiles serve as interpretive categories for the physical setting. Structured classifications connect directly to broader atlas records where available.
Relief
Mixed relief
Climate
Boreal
Water
Major water bodies
Forest cover
Mostly forested
Seasonality
Strongly seasonal

Landscape features

Mountains · Wetland · Rivers · Lakes · Karst · Forest · Grassland · Marsh · Bog

Habitat types

Boreal forest · Wetland · Riverine habitat · Lacustrine habitat · Karst habitat · Grassland · Peatland

Park atlas

Browse surrounding protected landscapes and compare regional park geography across Northern Canada.

Discover National Parks and Protected Areas Near Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada

Continue your atlas exploration by discovering additional national parks and protected areas located geographically near Wood Buffalo National Park, tracing Canada's vast boreal forests and wetland systems. Compare their unique landscapes, conservation priorities, and regional contexts to understand the broader spread of protected territories across northern Canadian wilderness.
Wildlife reserveAlberta
8.1 km away#1 closest

Southeast

Richardson Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary: Protected Boreal Geography in Alberta

Mapping a vital waterfowl refuge and wetland complex

Richardson Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary protects a crucial boreal wetland node along the southern margin of the Peace-Athabasca Delta. The area features a shallow lake environment, sedge meadows, and floodplains that provide essential breeding and staging habitat for diverse migratory waterfowl populations, offering a unique record of northern conservation and river management history.

Area
107.98 km²
Established
1949
IUCN
Ib
National parkNorthwest Territories
About 332 km away#2 closest

Northeast

Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve: Northwest Territories National Park Atlas Overview

Mapped geography and protected landscape context.

Investigate Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, a key national park within the Northwest Territories. This detailed entry focuses on its protected area status, mapped geographic boundaries, and regional landscape context, crucial for understanding its role in the broader atlas of conservation lands.

Area
14,070 km²
Established
2019
IUCN
II
Relief
Highland
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
About 430 km away#3 closest

West

Maxhamish Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area: Mapping Northern British Columbia Wilderness

Boreal lake ecosystems and protected indigenous heritage lands

Spanning over 27,500 hectares, Maxhamish Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area is a remote boreal refuge characterized by its central lake and extensive coniferous forests. This park provides a critical habitat for moose, deer, and cold-water fish species while maintaining deep ties to the Fort Nelson First Nation and Acho Dene Koe. Its geography reveals a distinct northern basin, offering insight into the ecological character and protected landscape features of northeastern British Columbia.

Area
275.16 km²
IUCN
II
Water
Major water bodies
Season
Seasonal
National parkNorthwest Territories
439 km away#4 closest

Northwest

Nahanni National Park Reserve National Park: Protected Landscape and Geographic Mapping

Explore the mapped terrain and protected area boundaries in Northwest Territories.

Navigate the protected landscape of Nahanni National Park Reserve, a designated national park within the Northwest Territories. This entry provides detailed insight into the park's mapped geographic boundaries and its role as a significant protected area. Understanding its place within the regional atlas allows for a deeper appreciation of its natural terrain and conservation significance, offering factual context for geographic exploration.

Area
30,050 km²
Established
1972
IUCN
II
Visitors
1.1K annual
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
About 443 km away#5 closest

West

Jackpine Remnant Provincial Park: Protected Boreal Landscape and Regional Map Context

Conservation and terrain data for the Fort Nelson region

Jackpine Remnant Provincial Park provides a critical study in northern conservation geography. Located in the Fort Nelson area of British Columbia, this 148-hectare site protects a rare stand of jack pine trees. Its mapped boundaries and boreal forest terrain offer a focused look at small-scale protected landscapes and their significance within the broader regional ecosystem of the Canadian north.

Area
1.48 km²
Established
2001
IUCN
II
Relief
Lowland
A minimalist watercolor illustration showing a light blue lake, green trees, and soft yellow ground.
Wildlife reserveAlberta
444 km away#6 closest

Southwest

Saskatoon Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary: Protected Wetland Landscape in Alberta

Geographic overview of sanctuary boundaries and habitat zones

Examine the territorial footprint and environmental setting of Saskatoon Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary. This site highlights the intersection of shallow aquatic basins and boreal parkland vegetation, providing a deep look into protected areas within the Grande Prairie region of Alberta.

Area
11.5 km²
Established
1948
IUCN
III
Watercolor painting of a long truss bridge spanning a river winding through a valley with hills and trees in the background.
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
About 463 km away#7 closest

Southwest

Kiskatinaw Provincial Park: A Protected Landscape Along the Historic Alaska Highway

Geography and heritage in the Peace River region of British Columbia

Kiskatinaw Provincial Park encompasses a distinctive horseshoe meander of the Kiskatinaw River, creating a deep gorge carved into the terrain of northeastern British Columbia. This protected area serves as a focal point for understanding both the river geomorphology of the Peace River Country and the engineering history of the original Alaska Highway, exemplified by the iconic 1942 wooden trestle bridge.

Area
0.58 km²
Established
1962
IUCN
II
Relief
Upland
National parkAlberta
486 km away#8 closest

South

Elk Island National Park: National Park Protected Landscape and Alberta Geography

Discover the mapped terrain and protected boundaries.

Elk Island National Park, a designated national park in Alberta, Canada, offers a distinct protected landscape for geographic exploration. This detail page focuses on its mapped boundaries, regional setting within Western Canada, and the specific natural terrain that constitutes its protected area. Users can gain a structured understanding of Elk Island National Park's role as a conserved natural entity, ideal for atlas-based discovery and geographic context.

Area
194 km²
Established
1913
IUCN
II
Visitors
401.9K annual
MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Wood Buffalo National Park's Geographic Identity

Dive deeper into the mapped boundaries and regional landscape of Wood Buffalo National Park. Understanding its protected-area status and geographic context within Northwest Territories provides valuable insight for atlas exploration. Discover how this national park fits into the wider natural geography, contributing to a structured understanding of protected lands.