Alaksen National Wildlife Area and the approved French form of the name, Réserve nationale de faune d'Alaksen, are identified in Environment Canada's 1996 list of National Wildlife Areas, and in Wildlife Area Regulations C.R.C., c.1609 (2003, current to April 2013).

Source: Canadian Geographical Names Database, Ottawa

Established in 1976; 349 hectares. (Environment Canada website/April 2013)

Source: included with note

The Alaksen National Wildlife Area (NWA) is part of the Fraser River delta, an area of roughly 67,000 hectares recognized as an internationally important migration stop-over and wintering area for a large number of migratory birds along the Pacific coast. Consisting of a mosaic of estuarine habitats, remnant wetlands, riparian forests, agricultural areas, and urbanized zones, the delta attracts up to 1.4 million birds from Siberia to South America each year. No other site in Canada supports such a diversity and number of birds in winter, and no comparable site exists along the Pacific coast between California and Alaska. Alaksen NWA was established in 1972, totalling 299 hectares mainly consisting of four former deltaic islands which were joined together by causeways and dykes in the earlier part of the century. Alaksen NWA contains a microcosm of habitats and wildlife presently found on the Fraser River delta. The importance of Alaksen NWA for wildlife is further recognized by its designation as a globally significant Important Bird Area, Ramsar site, and being within a Western Shorebird Reserve Network site. A section of Alaksen NWA overlaps with the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. (Environment Canada website/April 2013)

Source: included with note