Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is a national park in Alberta, Canada. It is the largest national park within Alberta's Rocky Mountains spanning 11,000 km2 (4,200 sq mi). Its location is north of Banff National Park and west of Edmonton. The park contains the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, springs, lakes, waterfalls and mountains.

Jasper National Park
IUCN category II (national park)[1]
Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park
Location of Jasper National Park in Canada
Location of Jasper National Park in Alberta
LocationAlberta, Canada
Nearest townHinton
Coordinates52.8°N 117.9°W / 52.8; -117.9
Area10,878 km2 (4,200 sq mi)
Established14 September 1907
Visitors2,345,130[2] (in 2016-17)
Governing bodyParks Canada
WebsiteOfficial website
Part ofCanadian Rocky Mountain Parks
CriteriaNatural: (vii), (viii)
Reference304
Inscription1984 (8th session)

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.[3] In 2014, Jasper National Park had 2,154,711 visitors.[2]

Wildlife

Mammalian species found in this park are the elk, caribou, moose,[4] red fox, mule deer, white-tailed deer, porcupine, lynx, beaver, marten, river otter, mink, pika, grizzly bear, coyote, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, black bear, timber wolf,[4] hoary marmot, cougar, and wolverine. The most common birds that fly around this park including raptors are bald eagles, golden eagles, Great horned owls, spruce grouses, white-tailed ptarmigans, bohemian waxwings, and evening grosbeaks.

World Heritage Site

The 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
Mount Athabasca in the park

Major river systems originating in the park include the Athabasca and Smoky rivers (part of the Arctic Ocean basin).

Attractions
Fryatt Valley from the top of the head wall

Some of the park's scenic attractions include Mount Edith Cavell, Pyramid Lake with Pyramid Mountain, Maligne Lake, Medicine Lake, and the Tonquin Valley.

Other attractions are the Marmot Basin ski area; the Snocoach tours of the Athabasca Glacier, an outlet glacier of the Columbia Icefield; Athabasca Falls; the Jasper Skytram, and numerous other outdoor related recreational activities (such as hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, rafting, kayaking and camping). The Miette Hot Springs are located close to the northeast entrance.

A Grizzly Bear roams in a wooded area near Jasper Townsite in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

The Icefields Parkway is a highway 230 km (140 mi) in length from Lake Louise, Alberta in Banff National Park, to Jasper, Alberta. The highway parallels the continental divide, providing motor and cycle access to the mountains. The Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls[5] are both accessible by the road.[6]

Climate
Entering the park on Yellowhead Highway

Jasper National Park is featured in the 2010 3D animated comedy-drama film Alpha and Omega as the location the two wolf protagonists are taken from and struggle to return to.[9][10][11][12]

A KLM Boeing 777-300 is named after Jasper National Park.[13]

"Do not let moose lick your car" was posted on roads around the park in 2020. Moose liked to lick the salt off their cars which was dangerous for motorists and for the moose if they linger on the highways.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Protected Planet | Jasper National Park Of Canada". Protected Planet. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  2. Parks Canada Attendance 2017-18 (Report). Parks Canada. 2016–17.
  3. "Jasper National Park of Canada: Visitor Information". Parks Canada. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2007.
  4. Elassar, Alaa (22 November 2020). "Canadian officials warn drivers not to let moose lick their cars". CNN. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. "Sunwapta Falls". Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  6. Higdon, Brianna. "Website". Brianna Marie Lifestyle.
  7. "CCN". Canadian Climate Normals 1981−2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  8. "Jasper Warden". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  9. Loup, Mat (10 September 2010). "US pet day celebrations launch animated 'Alpha and Omega' movie". Media centre. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  10. "Alpha and Omega promo video". Tourism Jasper's blog. Tourism Jasper. 2010. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  11. Mah, Bill (28 September 2010). "Jasper hopes for Hollywood bounce". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  12. White, Carrie (16 December 2010). "Tourism Jasper Has A Busy First Year". The Fitzhugh. Jasper, Canada: Aberdeen Publishing. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  13. Remark Named. "KLM PH-BVP (Boeing 777 - MSN 44555) | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net.
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