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Banff National Park
Banff National Park of Canada is approached from the southeast via the Trans-Canada Hwy. (Hwy. 1) west of Canmore, from the northeast via Hwy. 11 southwest of Abraham Lake, or from the north via Hwy. 93 from Jasper. The park's majestic beauty is inescapable. These routes lead to a region where mountains and the forces of nature inspire awe and command respect.
This is Canada's oldest national park: Evidence suggests that prehistoric habitation dates back 11,000 years. Remnants of the more recent Assiniboine, Blackfoot, Cree, Kootenai and Stoney settlements also have been found in the park. European explorers did not arrive until the early 1800s, and when they did, they argued over the land's resources, prompting the government to establish the park in 1885.
In this 6,641-square-kilometre (2,564-sq.-mi.) section of the Canadian Rockies there are only two main centers of activity: Banff and Lake Louise. The glacial-green Bow River flows through the mountain-ringed valley that is the setting for Banff. The dry, bracing climate, alpine grandeur and mineral hot spring pools enhance Banff's attractiveness.
The town of Banff, granted autonomy from federal jurisdiction Jan. 1, 1990, is within the park. Development within the town is strictly controlled; residents do not own their land but lease it from the park.
Situated 58 kilometres (36 mi.) west of Banff at an elevation of 1,731 metres (5,679 ft.) is icy, blue-green Lake Louise. About 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi.) long, .6 kilometres (.4 mi.) wide and 90 metres (295 ft.) deep, Lake Louise springs from Victoria Glacier, whose meltwater carries the silt and rock flour that give the lake the opaque turquoise color common to most of the area's waters. The upper portion of the glacier is 60 to 90 metres (197 to 295 ft.) thick; the lower part is 90 metres (295 ft.) at its deepest.
The park's well-known peaks include Rundle, Cascade, Victoria, Lefroy, Temple, Castle, Forbes, Chephren, Hector and the Ten Peaks, all ranging from 2,752 to 3,618 metres (9,030 to 11,870 ft.) above sea level. The upper slopes of the ranges are either bare and rugged or glacier crowned, while the lower slopes are forested. Many mountains are mirrored in Moraine, Peyto and other lakes.
Banff National Park of Canada is a wildlife refuge. Animals are especially visible in the fall; elk, deer and bighorn sheep are most common, while sightings of mountain goats and moose often require binoculars. Bears, wolves, coyotes, lynx and other predators are seen occasionally. Black magpies and other members of the crow family, including the gray jay, Clark's nutcracker and raven, dart through the trees.
Although most of the park's lakes and rivers--particularly the Bow River--sustain healthy fish populations, some lakes cannot due to the "winter kill." This phenomenon occurs when a lake freezes to such a great depth that oxygen is depleted at the bottom of the lake, thereby killing all fish.
Note: Night travelers should be alert for animals on the highways. It is not only dangerous but also against park regulations to feed, molest, touch or tease the animals.
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