Jasper National Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jasper National Park | |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Location: | Alberta, Canada |
| Nearest city: | Jasper |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 10,878 km² |
| Established: | 1907 |
| Visitation: | 1,908,000 (in 2004[1]) |
| Governing body: | Parks Canada |
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.
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[edit] 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 2005, Jasper National Park had 1,908,000 visitors.[1]
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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).
[edit] 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 Canyon, Whistler Sky-Tram, 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 notheast entrance.
[edit] Photo gallery
 Seen from Whistlers Mountain |
 Jasper from the Whistlers Mountain |
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Alberta Tourism - Tourist statistics and revenue
- ^ Parks Canada - Jasper National Park Visitor Information
[edit] External links
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National parks: Aulavik • Auyuittuq • Banff • Bruce Peninsula • Cape Breton Highlands • Elk Island • Forillon • Fundy • Georgian Bay Islands • Glacier • Grasslands • Gros Morne • Gulf Islands • Gwaii Haanas • Ivvavik • Jasper • Kejimkujik • Kluane • Kootenay • Kouchibouguac • La Mauricie • Mingan Archipelago • Mount Revelstoke • Nahanni • Pacific Rim • Point Pelee • Prince Edward Island • Pukaswa • Prince Albert • Quttinirpaaq • Riding Mountain • Sirmilik • St. Lawrence Islands • Terra Nova • Torngat Mountains • Tuktut Nogait • Ukkusiksalik • Vuntut • Wapusk • Waterton Lakes • Wood Buffalo • Yoho |
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Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks • Dinosaur Provincial Park • Gros Morne • Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump • Kluane-Wrangell-St. Elias-Glacier Bay-Tatshenshini-Alsek (with USA) • L'Anse aux Meadows • Lunenburg • Miguasha Provincial Park • Nahanni • Old Quebec • SGaang Gwaay • Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (with USA) • Wood Buffalo
