Regardless of whether you’re reading Air Canada enRoute in seat 16F or on your couch at home, our stories transport – it could be to the quietest place in Canada or to a street performance-filled neighbourhood in Seoul. In celebration of Earth Day, here are some nature- and wildlife-focused gems from our archives, which will take you from the ancient forests of Haida Gwaii to the “panda route” in Sichuan, China.
Magic Awaits on an Off-Season Adventure in Haida Gwaii
As Sarah Musgrave writes, “these lush islands on B.C.’s north coast are bucket-list material for folks looking to connect with the planet.” From majestic Sitka spruce trees to a family of orcas, she saw it all and, because she travelled to the “Hawaii of the North” in the off-season, had it all to herself.
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Become One with the Whale Sharks in Western Australia
Twelve hundred-kilometres north of Perth, on Australia’s remote west coast, writer Caitlin Walsh Miller unplugged, surrounded by the crystal-clear waters of Ningaloo Reef – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the easiest places on Earth to swim with a whale shark.
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See Pandas on Their Home Turf in China’s New National Park
Last fall the Chinese government finalized plans for Giant Panda National Park, which will span more than two-million hectares in the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu – more than four times the size of Banff National Park. That makes now a great time to revisit this story by writer Gloria Dickie, who travelled to the region for our October 2018 issue.
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Why Costa Rica is a Bird Lover’s Paradise
In one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park, our senior editor Jacinthe Dupuis went on a mission: to spot the greatest number of animals possible. The birds, in particular, did not disappoint. Flit along with her in this read to encounter small blue herons, motmots and more.
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You Can Still Hug a Tree
Ever stopped to consider what’s really happening in the woods? In this excerpt from German forest ranger-turned-author Peter Wohlleben’s book The Hidden Life of Trees, you will learn about the dynamics between mother trees and their offshoots and how to identify if a young tree is experiencing a growth spurt – all accompanied by Eamon Mac Mahon’s striking photographs of mature forests across Canada.