Secluded and storm-swept, the Gwaii Haanas Archipelago is a magical place. The Park is made up of 138 islands in the Queen Charlottes, off the rugged northern coast of British Columbia. The Haida people call their islands "Haida Gwaii"; which means "a place of wonder." The most significant cultural resource in the park is the mortuary totem poles at Ninstints; declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Gwaii Haanas protects a representative area of the west coast rainforest, mountain and marine environment. This diversity provides ideal habitat for a multitude of marine species including whales, sharks, seals and sea lions. Over 750,000 species of seabirds nest on the islands of Haida Gwaii. Scientists have identified at least 39 completely unique subspecies of plants or animals in the archipelago, the largest being the Haida Gwaii black bear.