The Canadian Rockies in the Banff Nation

Lake Louise, CANADA: The Canadian Rockies in the Banff National Forest 30 November, 2006 during morning sunrise. In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. That dicovery led to the establishment of Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and the world's third. Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots. AFP PHOTO / JEFF HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)