Established in 1936, the Cape Breton National Park spans a total land area of 950 square kilometers and takes up almost 20% of the entire Northern Cape Breton region. It is currently one of the largest protected areas in Nova Scotia and a part of a system of national parks in the entire country of Canada. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is known for its picturesque landscapes. It derives its name from the spectacular highlands that open to the ocean, and is considered as the most striking feature in the park. Because the park is protected by the Canadian government, the Cape Breton Highlands National Park has become a haven for dozens of rare and threatened plant and animal species, many of which are not found anywhere else in the country. It is also home to a number of forests with trees and plants hundreds of years old, with some dating as far back as the last Ice Age. Visitors to the park can enjoy a wide array of different activities. Apart from the usual activities such as hiking, swimming, fishing and enjoying a picnic with family or friends, this park now also offers Geocaching activities. Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt where participants use their GPS to locate a number of hidden boxes that contain a logbook where they can record their visit. The park currently offers four different Geocaching trails to cater to both adults and children.