Established in 1885, Banff National Park is the oldest National
Park in Canada. It encloses a vast 2,564 square miles (6,641 square
kilometres) of stunning scenery, and is home to a number of rare
creatures including cougar and lynx. The largest town and primary
hub of the park is Banff, which is one of the highest towns in
Canada, situated at 4,800 feet (1,463 metres) above sea level.
Surrounded by mountains and known for its hot springs, Banff is
popular with tourists all year round.
Some of the most famous attractions in the vicinity include the
8,041 feet (2,451 metres) tall Sulphur Mountain, so-called because
of the hot springs discovered on its lower slopes. There are cable
cars that run all the way to the observation decks at the summit,
offering marvellous views over the surrounding area. The
emerald-coloured Lake Louise is another popular tourist spot. This
was named after Princess Louise, a daughter of Queen Victoria -
whose husband was the Governor of Canada between 1878 and 1883. The
beautiful lake's unique colour is caused by rock flour, which is
mixed in to the water as it melts during glacial activity. It
attracts many visitors each year.