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Mexico
South America
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Mexico
South America
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Canadian Rockies at a glance
When many people hear of Canada, the first place that springs to
mind is Banff. The soaring peaks, dense coniferous forests and
abundant wildlife are a Canadian institution. The Banff townsite
sits within Banff National Park, Canada's oldest and most
spectacular Heritage Site. Home to many of the nation's most famous
landmarks, densely populated with wildlife and full of
opportunities for relaxation and adventure, Banff is Canada's
ambassador to the world and one of the country's most-visited
tourist attractions.
Canadian Rockies history
The first people to occupy the area were Native Americans who arrived
in the Bow River Valley nearly 11,000 years ago, as the last Ice
Age was coming to an end. Finding the winter climate mild due to
the chinooks (strong, warm winds that rush out of the mountains and
onto the prairie in the middle of the winter), they settled in the
protected mountain valleys, and enjoyed the abundance of fish and
wildlife that called the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
home. Over time, they developed into the Cree, Kootenay and
Blackfoot tribes, who coexisted in relative peace for the next
9,900 years. In the late 1700's, a smallpox epidemic washed over
the Great Plains, killing half the native population and seriously
weakening the survivors. Buffalo hunters had also reduced the
thundering herds to a shadow of their former selves, eradicating a
major source of food. Territorial conflicts broke out among the
tribes, who had received horses and firearms from trading partners
to the east. Rumours of European traders and missionaries began
arriving, and soon after explorers began to trickle into the area.
Most of the travellers were in the employ of the Hudson's Bay
Company, and were seeking new areas to trap and trade furs. Fur
trading and mining exploration remained the primary activities in
the region until the 1850's, when surveying expeditions, including
the famous Palliser Expedition, came to chart the Southern Rockies
and northwestern prairies. Their maps were used in the definition
of the emerging country of Canada, and would prove vital in later
years for defining the route of the Canadian National Railroad,
which would eventually link the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and
provide a vital trade link between Europe and the Orient. In 1883,
the Canadian National Railroad was pushed through the Rocky
Mountain ramparts via the Bow River Valley, passing close to the
present day Banff townsite. During the construction of the
railroad, three construction workers were exploring the slopes of
nearby Sulphur Mountain when they stumbled across a collection of
small hot springs bubbling out of the rock. A heated debate erupted
over the ownership of the springs, which would later be known as
the Cave and Basin National Historic Site.
Canadian Rockies local information
Province: Alberta Country: Canada Canadian Rockies the Numbers:
Population: Jasper, 2167; Banff, 7615 Elevation: Jasper, 3480 feet; Banff, 4583 feet Average Annual Rainfall: 13.1 inches Average Jan. Temperature: 12 degrees F Average July Temperature: 59 degrees F Quick Facts:
Major Industries: tourism Major Tourist Destinations: Jasper National Park Ethnic Mix: 91.74% Caucasian, 4.38% African American, 3.23% Hispanic, 0.74% Asian Time Zone: GMT-5 Country Dialing Code: 1 Area Code: Jasper, 780; Banff, 403 Did You Know?
Jasper National Park is Canada's largest national park, consisting
of 10,878 square km of breathtaking beauty in the Rocky Mountains.
Banff National Park comprises 6,641 square miles of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is host to a multitude of outdoor activities. It became Canada's first national park in 1885 thanks to the discovery of an alluring series of hot springs. Banff has the highest elevation of all Canadian towns. Orientation:
Located in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta Canada, Jasper is
southwest of Edmonton and near British Columbia. From the United
States, Jasper is north of Washington, Idaho and Montana. Banff is located approximately 80 miles away
from Calgary.
Canadian Rockies weather
Average Temperatures
Fah
Cel
Rainy Days
Average Annual
Rainfall:
9.9" / 25.6 cm
Plan Your Canadian Rockies Trip
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