Banff National Park

Banff National Park was created by the Canadian government in 1885 as the country’s first national park. The park, which includes the Rocky Mountains, has 6641 sq kilometres (2564 sq miles) of mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, glaciers and hot springs, and is home to wolves, mountain goats, eagles, grizzly bears and elk. The most famous man-made addition to the area is the Banff Springs Hotel, completed in 1888. It was built to resemble a baronial Scottish castle and accommodates more than 800 guests. Lake Louise, named in honour of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, is one of the most popular sites in the Rocky Mountains.