WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK

park in northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, Canada, between Athabasca and Great Slave lakes. It has an area of 17,300 sq mi (44,807 sq km) and was established in 1922. A vast region of forests and plains crossed by the Peace River, it has many lakes (including Lake Claire) and is the world's largest park. It is the habitat of the largest remaining herd of plains and wood buffalo (bison) on the North American continent, as well as of bears, caribou, moose, deer, and beavers. In the park are nesting grounds for the whooping crane, on the verge of extinction.