THUNDER BAY — The newest nature reserve created by the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists includes high cliffs, scenic bays and offshore islands at a 213-acre (86 hectares) site south of the city in the Municipality of Neebing.
The TBFN on Monday announced the recent creation of the Mink Bay Nature Reserve on Lake Superior.
It's about 24 kilometres south of the city, immediately south of the Mink Mountain Resort.
There is no road access, facilities or trails on site, so the best way to visit is by boat.
Although cliffs rise up from the water for most of the reserve's expanse, there is a small section of cobble beach at the north end of the property.
Club members and guests recently visited the area with the aid of a local commercial tour operator who shuttled them along the shoreline together with a TBFN naturalist guide.
This is the group's 24th nature reserve.
It was made possible, it said, by support from the federal and Ontario governments along with several private foundations, local organizations and generous private donors in the community.
"This section of Lake Superior coastline and islands is one of Canada's iconic landscapes...TBFN is happy to protect this new land and share its natural wonders with the public."
A number of arctic plants grow along the narrow strip of shoreline.
"Here the cold temperature of Lake Superior plus scouring ice and pounding waves create a challenging habitat. Temperate climate plants struggle to survive...but arctic species are well suited to these conditions and still thrive on this shore, far from their core arctic range," the TBFN stated.
The registered charitable organization was founded in 1932, and established its nature reserve program in 1990 in response to concerns about land-use demands.
Currently, over 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) fall under its protection.
