Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2004, in Canada. The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve comprises the largest island archipelago of the North American Great Lakes. Known locally as the Thirty Thousand Islands, it consists of a complex association of bays, inlets, sounds, islands and shoals along the edge of the Canadian Shield bedrock. Low-lying hills and ridges characterise the adjacent mainland. This topography supports a rich mosaic of forests, wetlands and rocky habitat types with associated biodiversity. The area is also noted for extraordinary scenic views, which attract large numbers of summer residents, cruising boaters and seasonal visitors.