Riding Mountain - Wilderness Island (3/5)

The province of Manitoba lies in the heart of Canada and enjoys the sheer vastness of its landscape and distinct seasons. When Riding Mountain National Park was established it was described as an "island of wilderness in an ocean of farmland". It is a park of contrasts. In summer it can reach up to 30 degrees whilst in winter, temperatures of minus 30 are not uncommon. 239 bird species and 60 species of mammals live here: not only beavers, but also black bears, bison, moose and elk, coyotes, wolves, porcupines, bobcats and cougars.