Banff National P Canada's oldest national park, established 1885, Canadian Rockies. T park, located 110-180 kilometres (70-110 ) Calgary province Alberta, encompasses 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 q ) mountainous terrain, numerous glaciers fields, dense coniferous forest, alpine landscapes. T Icefields Parkway extends L Louise, connecting Jasper National P north. Provincial forests Y National P neighbours west, while Kootenay National P located south Kananaskis Country southeast. T commercial centre p Banff, B River valley.

T Canadian Pacific Railway instrumental Banff's early years, building Banff Springs Hotel Chateau L Louise, attracting tourists through extensive advertising. I early 20 century, roads built Banff, times y internees, through Great Depression- public works projects. Since 1960s, p accommodations p year, annual tourism visits Banff increasing 5 million 1990s. Millions p through p Trans-Canada Highway. A Banff world's visited national parks, health ecosystem threatened. I -1990s, Parks Canada responded y initiating -y study, which resulted management recommendations, policies preserve ecological integrity.