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 Banff
National Park |
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Banff got its start in the fall of 1883, after three Canadian Pacific
Railway construction workers unwittingly stumbled across the area’s
natural hot springs. Dreams of turning their discovery into profit ended
abruptly when a November 28, 1885 Order of Council was passed reserving
over 26 square kilometers on the north slopes of Sulphur Mountain for
the government of Canada. This effort officially welcomed Canada’s
first national park.
One year later, the township of Banff began its official development.
In 1902, the park boundaries were expanded to include Lake Louise
and following some adjustments, stabilized in 1903 as Banff National
Park, encompassing 6,641 square kilometers.
In 1980, the United Nations recognized Banff National Park as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO identifies, protects and preserves
cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be
of outstanding value to humanity.
Today, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination
spots. Visitors can tour our historic sites, soak in hot springs
from the same mineral stream the railway construction workers discovered,
tour Canada’s longest cave system – the Castleguard Caves,
stroll along the shores of Lake Louise, spend a night in the historic
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and drive the Icefields Parkway into
adjoining Jasper National Park.
Vacationing in a national park and a
United Nations World Heritage Site is a combination not found anywhere
else in the world. |
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