Banff, Alberta (Canada)
According to SUNGLASSESWILL, the city of Banff is located on the southwestern border of the province of Alberta, 126 km northwest of Calgary. It is the starting point for a trip to Banff National Park – one of the most famous national parks in the Rocky Mountains and one of the most famous national parks on the planet. This is the first national park in Canada and the third oldest in the world, it was founded in 1885. The area of the park is 6641 sq. km. Wolves, mountain goats, grizzly bears, elk deer and other large animals live on its territory. More than 260 species of birds nest in the park, which makes it possible to arrange ornithological tours, which are most interesting in spring.
Extensive glaciers stretch along the border with Jasper National Park . Also in the park there are hot springs with water temperature up to +40 degrees. They include sulfates, bicarbonates, calcium, magnesium and sodium. On the territory of the park in 1888, on the basis of hot springs, a whole hotel with spa centers was created. Among other things, in Banff National Parkyou can go diving. Lake Minnewanka is suitable for this. It is located at an altitude of 1450 m above sea level. The lake has a length of about 18 km and a depth of up to 100 m. At the beginning of the 20th century, the dam was destroyed here, which led to the sinking of part of the village, flooded buildings and are the main objects for divers to explore. In winter, ice diving is possible on the lake. In 1895, the Natural History Museum was opened in Banff Park with more than 5,000 exhibits. It tells everything about the history of the country and the mainland as a whole. Dozens of campsites are equipped for living in the park. Banff Ski Area in Banff National Parkone of the most popular in the country. It includes several ski resorts: Mount Norcay, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, Nakiska and Canmore Nordic Center. The height of the tracks here ranges from 1635 m to 2730 m. In total, 250 tracks are laid here, of which: 22% for beginners, 43% of moderate difficulty and 35% for professionals. There are over 30 lifts. The resort infrastructure includes about 60 shops, 64 restaurants, 33 bars, children’s centers, tour desks, skating rinks, sports centers, spa centers, museums, ski schools, rentals of ski and snowboard equipment, dog teams, snowmobiles and much more. In the resort of Gora Norkay, the elevation difference is 503 m. It has 33 slopes, the longest of which is 1167 m long, and 5 lifts. Sunshine Village Resortis the highest Canadian ski resort, the highest point of its slopes is located at an altitude of 2730 m. The elevation difference within the resort is 1070 m. The resort will be of particular interest to professionals, as it has a huge number of “black” slopes. In total, 92 tracks are laid here, the longest is 8 km, there are 12 lifts. The Lake Louise resort has the largest ski area in terms of area – 17 square meters. km. The elevation difference within the resort is 991 m. There are 113 slopes (the longest one is 8 km) and 10 lifts. The Nakiska Resort was established in 1988 to host the Winter Olympics. The elevation difference here is 735 m. 28 routes have been laid (the longest is 3.2 km), 5 lifts are operating. Banff Ski Areais known for its heliskiing opportunities, when skiers are delivered to the virgin snow fields by helicopters. Jasper National Park is adjacent to Banff National Park to the north.
Jasper, Alberta (Canada)
The city of Jasper is located in the Rocky Mountains about 360 km southwest of Edmonton. It is the administrative center of the largest national park in the Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park. The park was founded in 1907 and now covers an area of 10,878 sq. km. Glaciers, mountains, river valleys and alpine meadows stretch on its territory. This is one of the largest areas in southern Canada., which has been preserved in its original form, and one of the few where numerous predators live, such as grizzly bears, mountain lions, Canadian lynxes, wolves and wolverines. In addition, moose, wapiti deer, bighorns, mountain goats, black-tailed deer, rare caribou, beavers, tree porcupines, muskrats, red squirrels and large flying squirrels are protected in the park. Of the plants in the park, the most interesting is Douglas fir, which, in the presence of a slope of the trunk, itself grows wood on one side of the tree, leveling the balance.
The highest mountain in the province, Mount Columbia, is located in the park.(3747 m); a vast area of karst formations – the Malin Valley, where the largest lake in the Rocky Mountains is located, 22 km long and up to 100 m deep, which has glacial nutrition; sand dunes around Jasper Lake and the picturesque Athabasca Falls, 23 m high; the territory of the park also passes the northern border of the distribution of Douglas fir and the watershed between the rivers belonging to the three oceans, which are the local glaciers that feed these rivers. Jasper
National Park is home to North America’s most popular and most accessible glacier, the Athabasca Glacier. Its age exceeds 10 thousand years, and the area is more than 200 square meters. km. The Athabasca Glacier is gradually melting, which is why it is moving, so tourists are forbidden to travel on it without a guide. Also in the park Jasper is home to numerous hot springs. One of them – Miette – has a water temperature of about +54 degrees. The waters of the springs are rich in calcium, sulfates and sulfides. On the basis of the springs, entire pools were opened, where already purified and slightly cooled water is supplied.
You can see all the sights of Jasper National Park by going on a trip along hiking trails, the total length of which is about 1200 km. Campsites and even hotels are equipped for living in the park . Jasper National Park is home to the popular ski resort of Marmot Basin.. The highest point of the resort is located at an altitude of 2601 m, the height difference is 914 m. The resort has 84 slopes, the longest of which has a length of 5633 m, and 9 lifts. Marmot Basin also offers snowboarding opportunities. Jasper National Park is adjacent to Banff National Park to the south.
