What makes Jasper so special?
/Jasper National Park is no doubt, another of Canada's most alluring and magnificent locations. Ever since it's designation in 1984, it has grown to be a tourist favorite, even earning the nickname, "The Gentle Giant". The National park is named after the small mountain town that is dwarfed by the sheer grandness and elegance of the mountains, Jasper, Alberta. Almost all of Jasper's 11,000 square kilometers is protected and waiting for tourists to be awed.
Jasper is so special not only because of it's charming appearance, but because of it's abundance of wildlife. Jasper is home to 69 different species of mammals; 29 of which are small. Animals range from wolves to coyotes, cougars, black bears, etc. This is what brings many tourists rushing; the sight of seeing animals that can't literally be seen anywhere else. However, some of these species are a part of the endangered category, which requires significant consideration for conservation of the species. If Jasper wasn't a National Park, species such as the American Badger, the Little Brown myotis (bat) and Banff Springs Sail (BNP) would face extinction from the changing climate and from being hunted. Another reason why Jasper is so special is because it contains several large glaciers, which are currently being effected by geological processes. As the Earth warms, glaciers like these face being melted. It is estimated that Athabasaca Glacier could disappear within a generation! More about this is mentioned below. The Columbia Icefield that has split from one of Western Canada's mountains. It is the largest icefield in all of the Rocky Mountains. This glacier faces heavy precipitation; there is almost 7 meters of snow fallen every year! However, the most-visited is the Athabasca. It is known to move at the rate of a few centimeters every day. Because of the warming climate, the glacier has been melting for almost 130 years. It has retreated over 1.5kms over this time. This is why this park is important in the eyes of the United Nations; it is important that areas like these are well protected from tourists by enforcing restrictions. Jasper is an important park; not only because of its stunning views, but because of the rich ecosystem that relies on it to survive. Jasper is protected under the United Nations World Heritage Sites, to ensure that all mentioned above will continue to be enjoyed by the future generations. |
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