The Canadian Rockies are noted for their jagged peaks, many of which are snow-capped even in summer. Much of the natural beauty of the area has been saved by their incorporation in a series of national and provincial parks, including Banff National Park. These massive peaks line the Bow River valley near Banff, Alberta.
This is an early March picture, but even in summer, some snow remains at the highest elevations. The area is an all-year attraction going from winter sports to summer boating, hiking and just taking it easy. Lake Louise, near Banff, is one of the most popular destinations in the area.
Not that you have to wait for warm weather to take to the water: The same day these pictures were taken, we spent an hour in an outdoor pool, heated by thermal springs! The water was at bathtub temperature and the air was 40F!
In one of the pictures below you can see that even in downtown Banff, the mountains are never far away.
Click on the links for more information on Banff National Park or the Banff/Lake Louise area.
Is there a list somewhere of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites ? What are the criteria for inclusion ?
There are a lot of fabulous places to visit. I need to get busy. The list is handily sorted by countries. I will bookmark this and consult it when planning a trip to a particular country or region. Thanks for the information.
If you hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have known!
So, from UNESCO’s website, here’s the word:
The World Heritage List includes 981 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. These include 759 cultural, 193 natural and 29 mixed properties in160 States Parties. As of September 2012, 190 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.
Here’s a LINK to more info, including the list.