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The Flin Flon Destination encompasses a portion of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the central-eastern region of Canada. Lakes, wooded land, and marshes comprise much of the destination, in addition to a few fairly small communities and towns. Flin Flon, the namesake, is a city situated on the border shared between Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the destination’s central region. Tourists in Flin Flon are given a relatively wide range of options in terms of attractions, as a petting zoo, boardwalk, and beaches are a few areas that one can visit in the city. For those who take an interest in Flin Flon’s historical significance, the city’s main street features several historic buildings that reflect Flin Flon’s mining heritage.[3] It is recommended that those who plan on visiting Flin Flon for warm-weather activities should come from early July to mid-August for moderate weather conditions.[4] Aside from the city of Flin Flon, other towns that are found within the destination include Bakers Narrows, Cranberry Portage, Denare Beach, Sturgeon Landing, Cormorant, and The Pas. The latter often draws travelers who visit the town to attend the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival, which entails a variety of winter activities.[8]
Located on the border shared between the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Flin Flon Destination encompasses a considerable amount of marshes and lakes in central Canada. The namesake, Flin Flon, is a city in the heart of the destination, covering approximately 4.46 square miles (11.55 square kilometers) of land.[1] According to the Canadian census statistics, Flin Flon is home to an estimated population of 4,940 residents as of 2021. The city’s population has experienced a slight decrease of -1.0%, as the 2016 census recorded a total of 4,991 people.[2]
Flin Flon is considered by a number of travelers to be a fairly small tourist destination in the area of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with a few attractions established throughout the city. One particularly notable site in Flin Flon is Flinty’s Boardwalk, where visitors can have the opportunity to explore the city’s landscape. The boardwalk extends along the shores of Ross Lake. Another prominent attraction in Flin Flon is the Joe Brain Petting Zoo, which caters to both a younger and an older demographic. For those who enjoy outdoor recreational activities, Bakers Narrows Provincial Park can be found about a 20-minute drive outside of Flin Flon. A few hiking trails wind throughout the park, and it also has a lookout tower where visitors can view the landscape from a different perspective. The city also hosts a few events, with one of the more popular celebrations being the Flin Flon Trout Festival which is held during Canada Day weekend.[3]
One of Canada’s oldest winter festivals takes place in the town of The Pas, situated in the destination’s southern region. This event is known as the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival and was deemed “Manitoba’s oldest festival” on account of it being held annually since 1948. This event typically involves dog sled racing, ice fishing, muskrat skinning, and other similar winter activities. The sled dog race is reportedly part of the International Federation of Sleddog Sports.[8]
Canadian Shield bedrock constitutes the majority of the city’s topography, which earned Flin Flon the nickname “the city built on rock.” Most of Flin Flon is located in the province of Manitoba; however, the city is administered by and incorporated in both provinces.[1] In addition to the namesake, the Flin Flon Destination contains a fairly notable natural area known as Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, found in the southern fraction of the destination. The park covers an expanse of 230 square miles (595 square kilometers), composed of coniferous forests with wildflowers. Some of the most popular recreational undertakings in Clearwater Lake Provincial Park are boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, camping, and overnight lodging. Lake trout, northern pike, and whitefish are some of the species that fishermen can potentially catch in the provincial park.[5]
While the Flin Flon Destination has a relatively high quantity of lakes, one of the largest is Amisk Lake, encompassing a surface area of 111,957 acres (45,307.5 hectares). Amisk Lake is located in the Saskatchewan portion of the destination, about 14 miles (22 kilometers) southwest of Flin Flon. Along the eastern shore of the lake is Amisk Lake Recreation Site, where a few campgrounds can be found. For those who take an interest in fishing at Amisk Lake, the following species of fish inhabit the lake’s waters: yellow perch, walleye, lake trout, northern pike, cisco, lake whitefish, white sucker, burbot, and longnose sucker. Several islands dot various parts of the lake as well, including Lookout Island, Carpenter Island, Newfoundland Island, Ing Island, Iskwasoo Island, Crater Island, and Missi Island, among other smaller islands.[7]
The summer season in Flin Flon has been described as “comfortable and partly cloudy,” while the winter season is said to be “frigid and snowy” with overcast skies. Temperatures range over the course of the year between -14°F and 74°F. It is recommended by the tourism score for the area that those who plan on engaging in warm-weather activities should visit from early July to mid-August. The warm season often experiences an average daily high above 60°F, generally between May and September. July is typically deemed Flin Flon’s warmest month of the year, as temperatures rest around 73°F on average. Concerning the cold season, temperatures drop to an average below 17°F from November to February. January tends to be the coldest month, with daily temperatures ranging between -13°F and 4°F.[4]
The name origins of the city of Flin Flon derive from a paperback novel, The Sunless City, written by J.E. Preston Muddock in 1905. In this novel, the main character’s name is Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin, and the character is known for operating a submarine in a bottomless lake where he enters a peculiar underground world.[1] Neighboring the city’s visitor’s center is a statue of Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin (also known as Flinty), in honor of Flin Flon’s establishment. Flin Flon bears historical significance, as the city was formerly a mining town. As such, several historical sites are established throughout Flin Flon, which tourists can visit to learn more about the history of the city. The Flin Flon Station Museum is located in a former Canadian National Railway Station building, featuring a collection of artifacts that pertain to its mining heritage and culture. Flin Flon’s main street comprises a few historic buildings as well, such as Pioneer Square.[3]
Dating back to the 20th century, Flin Flon’s history began with the discovery of gold near Amisk Lake in 1910. An influx of people was drawn to the area, as this was considered “the first major discovery of gold west of the Ontario border since the Klondike gold rush.” The Flin Flon copper-zinc ore body was found by two prospectors by the name of Tom Creighton and David Collins in 1915. This discovery in Flin Flon ultimately veered the focus from gold to base metals. Open pit mining became the primary method of prospecting, though as a comparatively more useful alternative, deep shaft mines gradually became the main procedure. Flin Flon’s present economic growth still relies on the mining industry today, as the operations of Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co. (Hud Bay Minerals) have become a major contributor.[6]
Bakers Narrows Lodge is located in Manitoba, Canada, residing on the expanse of twenty-six acres. For over 20 years, Brett Baynton has owned the acreage, working alongside his "right-hand man", Kenny. The property has 23 units in total and each lodge is separate from the others. Athapapuskow Lake is in close proximity to the establishment, providing visitors with water recreation opportunities. Bakers Narrows Lodge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner for its patrons. Many hikes that feature views of the Limestone Cliffs can be found near the lodges and it may interest visitors who are hoping to tour the area or spend time outdoors. On-site activities such as sand volleyball, fishing, and horseshoes are offered to guests who would prefer to stay near the property while participating in outdoor recreation.
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