canada national park seven national parks british_columbia system parks park reserves canada established park encompasses km2 includes portion contains rogers pass national historic site park history closely tied primary canadian transportation routes completed completed pass centre park explorers railway brought tourism establishment construction popular alpine hotel heavy winter steep prone valleys park major obstacle transportation necessitating railway engineering control measures park contains high peaks large active glaciers canada largest cave systems dense forests support populations large mammals birds alpine species region noted heavy snowfall park extensive network trails major transportation routes sees large numbers visitors history noted europeans explorer named nelson mountains lord later renamed executive rival lord finding pass priority construction began completion railway condition colony british_columbia entering surveyor led expedition named word swift water despite recently discovering eagle pass nearby failed find pass getting drainage party refused explore season forced retreat rogers pass expedition led major rogers discovered viable pass rogers awarded thousand dollar prize locating route mountains constructed line rogers pass trains traveling west pacific time canada federal government quickly realized tourism potential mountainous heavily area following trip prime minister wife newly completed returned ottawa inspired led creation national parks established october second national parks country year earlier grade railway approaching rogers pass steep allow dining cars trains built hotel west pass added collection owned hotels canada including built year floor plan located near terminus called great time center tourism photography hotel expanded considered western canada premier tourist destinations turn twentieth century hotel attracted world elevation high alpine hours leaving room contracted services swiss guides assist mountain tourists high country period peaks park hotel attracted scientists keen study mountain environment brothers george visited area times began scientific studies considered center north_america historian saw influx european american professional decades operation european note excellent climbing possibilities peaks near line green recorded major peaks summer climbing british including later joined swiss explore southern peaks park claimed prized ascent dramatic mount sir founding member came started thirty year relationship northern saw map region publish large reference works geography explore park terrain near bears peak pass professor president visiting park 1890s publicized club magazine 1900s park prominent peaks seen human tracks winter operation clear heavy rogers pass going challenge extensive snow sheds built shelter rails frequent wood sheds fire hazard summer months separate summer track built clearing slide came killing men half workers killed slide japanese descent railway employees killed admitted defeat started construction kilometer tunnel pass opened new tunnel bypassed siding resulting lack rail passengers spelled end popular hotel closed torn years later park saw visitors summer camps thirty years point automobile travelers crossing use big bend highway followed upper reaches north large loop planned valley projects outlined new highway route needed built rogers pass bringing tourists park large numbers built new expanded trail system geography park covers northern sub range contains numerous glaciers large swift waterways park major transportation routes nearest towns west golden east settlement park complex rogers pass summit mountains columbia mountains rise extend eastward distinct nearby range divided sub ranges encompasses portion northern narrow strip northern topography park varies rounded mountains ridges east north west sharp steep sided peaks central southern regions measured park mountains complex system fixed points photographs early 20th century area referred canadian alps names historical figures including explorers railway executives major peaks ranges highest point park metres peaks van range purity range range sir lie wholly park glaciers park glaciers square kilometres size covering square kilometres park history north_america seen cycles ice sheets advanced retreated terrain glacial period ended years ago highest peaks park covered ice movements rivers ice formed steep sided shaped valleys park rounded lesser peaks ranges west park effect glaciers park retreating studied glaciers north_america glaciers park dramatically reduced size late 20th early 21st centuries precise measurements glacial areas started family 1900s modern measurements satellite imagery began work 1980s regular parks glaciers performed latest data recent inventory noted reduction square kilometres glacial surface area location near highway railway visited photographed known great major tourist attraction period terminus short walk site retreated far spreads far south spawning large glacial features south corridor large features include bishops black duncan grand park glaciers variety appearances high altitude features smooth uniform cracked slopes black debris valley bottoms summer glaciers red result variety snow algae known snow rivers park drainage basin park rivers swift running fed helped steep valleys carry rocky debris white appearance summer months rivers noticeable cycles run high snow ice melt peak drop considerably lower nighttime temperatures major rivers beaver large creeks brooks include runs underground caves battle beaver flood occasionally saw flooding damage highway railway geology geology northern reveals tremendous changes shaped terrain western north_america like british_columbia region studied prolific surveyor maps produced early 1900s 1970s grandson conducted extensive geological survey land air rogers pass layers slate visible revealing fact range large continental shelf million years ago million years ago successive plate movements west began material driving deep underground heights lime coral organic life compressed limestone seen area veins marble present rock high peaks erosion effects glaciers constantly grinding mountain peaks pressure underlying rock continues drive upward classed rocks groups appear northern groups group limestone rocks classed complex caves limestone strata park subject water erosion process formed discovered originally named caves kilometer long cave system largest canada limestone broken acid brook water water contains rock glacial processes serve cut new passages rock caves contain large concentration rare substance known suspension calcium kept intact bacteria sensitive nature damage cave environments early tourists closed caves general public access organized groups experienced allowed permit ecology covers range habitats lush temperate western valleys rock covered alpine areas drier fir pine forests eastern boundary british_columbia zones found park interior cedar spruce fir eastern alpine high elevations characterizes zones snow forest forest animal life park ranges large mammals like bear bird species jay golden eagle flora valleys western park support dense wet forests thick widest valleys contain rare wetlands environment featuring water outside wetlands lower valleys covered cedar western white pine western interior douglas fir white birch ground species include devil club species middle elevations zone appears forest spruce mountain fir thick species deep beds moss higher elevations forest opens meadows slide covered lush growth grasses shrubs alpine parks identified species flowering plants park late july mid september impressive display alpine alpine meadows continue harsh alpine zone poor soil heavy snowfall cold temperatures short growing season discourage grasses fauna rich forests support large wildlife population parks staff monitor regularly species found park bears dominate snow zone rich provide important food source black species spend winters deep predators include mountain goats common national park study counted high peaks valleys park migrate certain park valleys white tail deer found deep winter drive park lower elevations nearby rocky mountain trench columbia valleys seen park rare occasions species found lower forests alpine mammals include observed bird species majority migratory seen summer months species year round residents include golden eagles golden crowned unpredictable explosions pine reaching hundreds thousands number appear stay year round gone year american feed park climate located precipitation major environmental factor area park prevalent weather systems warmer air pacific meeting colder drier air continental weather systems moist air driven higher elevations mass result frequent rain especially winter months mean annual precipitation areas metres contributes large glaciers cover park high elevations rogers pass receive metres snow course winter eastern edge park rain shadow relatively drier area wide variations temperature weather extreme topography winter temperatures moderate compared similar elevations east summer average highs reaching high teens control maintaining trans canada highway snowy rogers pass constant battle works provincial highways crews highway open possible parks staff play research prevention role monitoring levels predicting probability working trigger controlled operate cannons based circular gun positions highway highway closed traffic shells fired trigger points identified parks forecasters smaller controlled started facilities park sees million visitors year majority passing stop use park facilities visitors experience park outside vehicles thirds outside canada kilometers established hiking trails park administration rogers pass discovery centre located rogers pass program mount national parks based centre includes theatre exhibit hall railway models natural history displays wildlife specimens park largest smaller located sir designated camping areas parks maintain alpine users oldest largest located near camping area sits metres pass col basic shelter near dome circle cabin valley base travelling southern areas park camping facilities park maintained winter months
Glacier National Park (Canada)