Magical, Mystical Manitoba Moments Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The unique flora and fauna of the "Spirit Sands" include a skink (Manitoba's only lizard), the hognose snake, and cacti. In what park might we find these, as well as the eerie "Devils Punch Bowl" and an oxbow lake by the Kiche Manitou campground?

Answer: Spruce Woods

The sand in Spruce Woods Provincial Park was deposited as a river delta draining glacial Lake Agassiz in what is now the southern part of the province of Manitoba. The Park protects the remaining sand dunes, as well as wildlife like the western hognose snake, the northern prairie skink, and the pincushion cactus.

The Devils Punch Bowl is a small blue-green spring-fed pool in the sandy area creating an oasis of spruce trees. Kiche Manitou Lake, an oxbow lake, is used for swimming and canoeing and is a creation of the meandering Assiniboine River.

The original human inhabitants revered the area as a place close to the Great Spirit, also known as Kiche Manitou.

2. To relax with the serenity of loon calls on the spring-fed waters of Blue Lakes, Childs Lake, Wellman Lake, and Singuish Lake, and to view the world from the highest point in Manitoba, what park must one visit?

Answer: Duck Mountain

Duck Mountain Provincial Park spans the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border and is geologically a result of the last ice age. The many small but cold lakes, marshes, and bogs provide canoe routes, as well as fishing, swimming, boating, and interesting hiking. One of the park's viewing towers is located on the highest point in Manitoba, Baldy Mountain, at 831 metres above sea level.

Historically, "the Ducks" created a barrier to be skirted by explorers and fur-traders, though the Cree, Assiniboine, Anishinabe and Ojibwe were able to navigate the park.

3. There is a small park on the shores of Lake Manitoba that is named for the monster rumoured to live within. Where might one stay to swim, fish, and boat, or to search for Manitoba's version of the Loch Ness monster and British Columbia's Ogopogo?

Answer: Manipogo

With documented sightings since the early 1900's, Lake Manitoba's monster resembles other "lake monsters". The most famous lake monster is, of course, Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. North American lake monsters include Ogopogo in British Columbia's Okanagan Lake and Champ in Lake Champlain in the Quebec-New York-Vermont area.

As with other lake monsters, lacking conclusive evidence, the legend of the Manipogo monster prevails. Manipogo Provincial Park contains a campground, boat launch, and beach, as well as places to witness garter snake migrations.

4. Long considered one of the best beaches in North America, what nostalgic beach on the shores of Lake Winnipeg is still Manitoba's most popular?

Answer: Grand Beach

In addition to its impressive beach, Grand Beach Provincial Park contains active sand dunes, a jack pine forest, a spruce bog, marshland, as well as opportunities for campers, cottagers, and hikers. Historical attractions from its earlier glory days included a boardwalk, dance hall, hotel, bath house, a carousel, refreshment stands, and the Grand Beach Train Station, which was, for many years, the only way to access the area.

5. Manitoba's deepest lake, Rainbow Falls, the sacred Bannock Point Petroforms, as well as wild rice and blueberries, are all found in what eastern Manitoba park, located on the Canadian Shield?

Answer: Whiteshell

"Whiteshell" was named for the sacred white megis shells that, to the Anishinabe people, symbolize Creation and the path of life. Today, some Aboriginal people leave offerings amongst the boulder snakes, turtles and other figures that are found at Bannock Point, where it is still believed that the spirits will teach those are willing to learn. Archaeological evidence in the park shows that groups would gather to harvest the area's resources and to conduct religious ceremonies. "The Whiteshell" now contains cottages, resorts, campgrounds, beaches, trails, and lakes for fishing, boating, and fishing. West Hawk Lake, Manitoba's deepest at about 360 feet, was formed by a meteorite impact and is just one of 200 lakes in Whiteshell Provincial Park.

6. Located just south of Flin Flon, a boreal forest on Precambrian rock forms the basis for what angler's paradise?

Answer: Bakers Narrows

Concealed in a boreal and mixed forest, Bakers Narrows Provincial Park, by Lake Athapapuskow, is renowned for some of the best fishing in Manitoba. It also has a scenic tower, a campground, playground, and swimming for anglers and their families.

7. As the oldest inhabited area of Manitoba, which also happens to be famous for the painted turtles found there, what park has lakes named Adam, Max, James, and Oskar?

Answer: Turtle Mountain

Turtle Mountain Provincial Park is located along the border of North Dakota and was the first dry land to appear after the glaciers and their melt-waters receded about 10,000 years ago. A canoe route winds its way through the many shallow lakes and marshes, while fishing, swimming, and camping are widely available in the Turtle Mountain area.

In the winter, the hiking and fitness tails are transformed into a maze of cross-country ski trails which converge near the groomed toboggan hill, skating pond, and hockey ice.

8. As a serene location for horseback riding, cycling, walking or swimming, what park echoes with one of North America's largest annual folk music events?

Answer: Birds Hill

Birds Hill Provincial Park is located just north of Winnipeg and is home to the Winnipeg Folk Festival which attracts about 45,000 people for one weekend every July. The Pine Ridge Bicycle Trail is a 4.5 mile paved trail which meanders through the forest and around the lake. The 30 kilometres of horseback riding trails also provide opportunities for hikers and cross-country skiers.

9. Named after an Icelandic volcano and located on the western shores of Lake Winnipeg, what Manitoba park not only contains places such as Black Island, Drumming Point, and Gull Harbour, but legends of sunken ships, magical islands, and the mysticism of Anishinabe medicine men, as well?

Answer: Hecla/Grindstone

From private campsites to resort accommodations, Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park provides opportunities for vacationers of all interests with a variety of birds and wildlife, a lighthouse, museum, golf course, beaches, boating, hiking/snowshoe/cross-country ski trails, and a skating pond. Hecla was named for one of Iceland's most prominent landmarks, the volcanic Mount Hekla.

10. With a name meaning "entrance to the wilderness", what wild park, located north of the Whiteshell on the Canadian Shield, contains hundreds of clear lakes, rivers, and the ghostly remnants of Manitoba's 1930's gold rush?

Answer: Nopiming

In Anishinabe (Saulteaux and Ojibwe), the name "Nopiming" suits this true "entrance to the wilderness". In Nopiming Provincial Park, abandoned mine shafts and equipment still remain from Manitoba's 1930s gold rush, remnants of old trappers' cabins still stand, and wildlife, including fish and birds, are plentiful, as the dark boreal forest varies from rocky cliffs with rapids and waterfalls to quiet bogs and sandy beaches.

Source: Author Cher40

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Have a meander through Manitoba's magical and mystical parks.

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