Iconic landmarks, Badlands, Rocky Mountains, and vibrant cities. Wild Rose Country has some incredible destinations, but some are bigger and better than others.

Located in Wood Buffalo National Park, the world’s largest beaver dam is a giant measuring 70,000 square meters and can be seen all the way from space – an impressive feat accomplished by Alberta’s animal kingdom.

According to Parks Canada, scientists first saw the colossal structure by accident while studying satellite images of the surrounding landscape.

“They stumbled upon the beaver dam and noticed it was very large and horseshoe-shaped,” they explained.

“They notified Parks Canada in 2009, and staff flew to the site by helicopter to take photos and measurements.”

Sound impressive? That’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Spanning seven football fields, the dam holds what would be equivalent to 92,000 dump trucks of water and has been maintained by generations of beavers.

Photo via Parks Canada

Sadly, if you’d like to see it for yourself, you could be In for a miserable trip.

“The dam is located at least 22 kilometres south of Claire Lake, which is part of the Peace-Athabasca Delta. The area around the dam is difficult to access and semi-aquatic,” Parks Canada continues.

“There are no trails or navigable waterways in this part of Wood Buffalo National Park. The dam cannot be reached by land and helicopter landings are not permitted.”

If we’re being honest, it’s better seen from above – especially because the resident beavers are still working incredibly hard and need their space for a good cause!

“Dams are an important part of the ecology and wider environment, and climate change can be judged by the spread of the dams,” explains Beaversww.org.

“The mammals use trees, mud, and stones to make a type of moat where they can use their swimming skills to evade any predators. The families of beavers live in lodges on the dams and spend their days adding to and repairing the incredible structures.”

Amazing, right? Alberta is quite the place!

Here are just a few incredible things you’ll see in the province – some of which are also among the largest in the globe.

We love our little province.

World’s Largest Beaver Dam – Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta

Where: see location here

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Cassandra Stefanic

Regional Editor, Prairies –Cassandra is a Calgary-based journalist with a deep appreciation for music, film, food, travelling, and storytelling. When she’s not chasing a story, writing, or editing, you’ll likely find her in the mountains, binge-watching a new series, at a speakeasy, cooking, or getting lost in a Taylor Swift re-record.

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