Jasper National Park, Alberta

Jasper National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location Alberta, Canada
Nearest city Jasper
Coordinates 52°52′23″N 118°04′56″W / 52.87306, -118.08222
Area 10,878 km²
Established 1907
Total visitation 1,908,000 (in 2004[1])
Governing body Parks Canada
World Heritage Site 304

Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 km² (4200 mi²). It is located in the province of Alberta, to the north of Banff National Park and west of the city of Edmonton. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and, of course, mountains. Wildlife in the park include elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, black bear, beaver, Rocky Mountain pika, hoary marmot and caribou.

History

Jasper was named after Jasper Hawes, who operated a trading post in the region for the North West Company. Before this it was referred to as Fitzhugh. The park was established on September 14, 1907 as Jasper Forest Park, and was granted national park status in 1930, with the passing of the National Parks Act.[2]

In 2004, Jasper National Park had 1,908,000 visitors.[1]

World Heritage Site

This park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, together with the other national and provincial parks that form the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, for the mountain landscapes containing mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and limestone caves as well as fossils found here.

Geography

Major river systems originating in the park include the North Saskatchewan River (part of the Hudson Bay basin), the Athabasca River and Smoky River (part of the Arctic Ocean basin).

Attractions

Some of the park's many photogenic vistas include Mount Edith Cavell, Pyramid Lake with Pyramid Mountain, Maligne Lake, Medicine Lake, and the Tonquin Valley all considered best photographed at sunrise except for Maligne Lake, which is best in the evening. Other attractions are the Marmot Basin ski area, the Snocoach (bus-sized snowmobile) tours of the Athabasca Glacier, a distributary of the Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls, Maligne Lake, Whistler Sky-Tram the Jasper Tramway, and numerous other outdoor related recreational activities (such as hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, rafting, kayaking and camping). The Miette Hotsprings are located close to the northeast entrance.

Among the most stunning of attractions is the drive from Lake Louise, Alberta in Banff National Park, to Jasper, Alberta called the Icefields Parkway. This drive is considered by some to be the most beautiful scenic drive in the world.

References

1. ^ a b Alberta Tourism (2004). Tourist statistics and revenue. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
2. ^ Parks Canada (January 2004). Jasper National Park of Canada Visitor Information. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.