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Banff National Park Facts

Banff National Park Facts
Banff National Park is a 2,564 square mile park in the Rocky Mountains, located in Alberta, Canada. It is believed that humans began to occupy the region more than 10,000 years ago, but prior to the arrival of the Europeans a variety of aboriginal people inhabited the area. It was a popular area for game hunting. In 1885 Prime Minister John A. Macdonald created a 26 square mile reserve, which expanded to 4,400 square miles in 1902. Due to logging and grazing, it was reduced to its current size in 1949. During World War I, immigrants in Canada from Ukraine, Germany, Hungary, and other countries were sent to work camps at Banff to construct roads and other infrastructure. Today Banff National Park is a cultural center, tourist destination, and host to a variety of events.
Interesting Banff National Park Facts:
Before the Europeans arrived in Banff's region the area had been inhabited by Siksika, Peigans, Kainai, Tsuu T'ina, Kootenay, and Stoney aboriginal people.
The mountains in Banff National Park are believed to be between 45 million and 120 million years old.
Banff National Park was the third national park in the world. It was Canada's first national park.
Banff was named after the birthplace of two Scottish men who were Canadian Pacific Railway directors - Banffshire.
The Banff Springs Hotel was built in 1887 and opened to the public in 1888. It was winterized in 1968 and this made the area a year round tourist destination.
Here are more than 1000 miles of established hiking trails within Banff National Park.
The longest cave system in Canada is located in the northwest corner of Banff. They are the Castleguard caves.
The town of Banff is located within Banff National Park, but is incorporated as town. It must still follow the rules of a national park in Canada.
Banff National Park is open to visitors all year round. The population of the Town of Banff, located within the park, is more than 7500.
Banff National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
The Trans-Canada Highway goes through Banff National Park, and this is a conservation issue as it has a negative effect on the environment.
The first Banff Winter Carnival was held in 1917.
There are seven National Historic Sites within Banff National Park including Cosmic Ray Station, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Park Museum, Cave and Basin, Howse Pass, Abbot Pass Hut, and Skiki Lodge.
Since 1996 more than 5 million people visit Banff National Park each year. This does not include those who drive through the park via the Trans-Canada Highway.
Banff National Park's Lake Louise was featured on the Canadian $20 bill as part of the Scenes of Canada banknote series printed from 1969-1979.
Animals that can be seen in Banff National Park include black bears, Grizzly bears, lynx, wolverines, cougars, river otters, weasels, red fox, mule deer, elk, wolves, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, beavers, chipmunks, and snowshoe hare.
Banff National Park is home to glaciers, icefields, mountains, rivers, lakes, and hot springs.


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