Atlin Provincial Park and Recreation Area

Atlin Provincial Park and Recreation Area
Location of Atlin Provincial Park in British Columbia
Location	British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city	Atlin and Whitehorse
Coordinates	59°31′21″N 133°45′35″W / 59.52250°N 133.75972°W / 59.52250; -133.75972Coordinates: 59°31′21″N 133°45′35″W / 59.52250°N 133.75972°W / 59.52250; -133.75972
Area	3,011.40 square kilometres (1,162.71 sq mi)
Established	1973
Governing body	BC Parks

Atlin Provincial Park and Recreation Area is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Situated in the remote northwestern corner of the province, the park protects large tracts of boreal forest, alpine tundra and glaciated terrain. The southern third of Atlin Lake, the largest natural body of freshwater in the province, is within the park boundary. The park is very undeveloped; no roads traverse it and no facilities, supplies, developed campsites or maintained hiking trails are available inside the park. The area has become a focal point in controversies involving proposed hydroelectric projects affecting Atlin Lake and environmental groups who view these proposals as potentially damaging to the lake's environment and its surroundings.

Atlin is an anglicization of Áa Tlein, the Tlingit word for "big body of water". The area has been used by the Taku River Tlingit for many years as attested to by artifacts discovered at nearly 40 excavated archaeological sites in the area.

It was gold that gave Atlin its reason for existence. The gold rush came to Atlin Lake country in 1898 and was one of the richest offshoots of the Klondike Gold Rush. By the end of the mining season of 1899 about 5000 people flocked to the region, and Atlin was a busy and important town. Although creeks in the present day park must have been prospected, none bore any gold. Although production was greatest in the early years, the Atlin field still produces today. Total placer gold production has exceeded $23 million.

In the early 1970s, BC Hydro proposed development of a hydroelectric project which included the construction of a tunnel to divert water from Atlin Lake to the Taku River. Fearing a potential disruption to the local environment, the provincial government opted to protect Atlin Lake and its surroundings by establishing a provincial park in the area in 1973.