Banff National Park

Moraine Lake in Banff National Park

Banff National Park

Banff National Park, in full Banff National Park of Canada, scenic natural and wilderness area in southwestern Alberta, Canada. Established as a national park in 1887, it occupies 2,564 square miles (6,641 square km) along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and abuts the border with British Columbia. Yoho and Kootenay national parks are adjacent to Banff in British Columbia, and Jasper National Park in Alberta lies to the northwest of Banff. Much of the rest of the land surrounding the park is within provincial parks or other protected areas. Park headquarters are in the town of Banff in the southern part of the park, about 80 miles (130 km) west of Calgary. Noted for its beauty, plant and animal diversity, and ongoing geologic processes, Banff National Park was designated part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.