to the east on top of each other. The same rocks There are fleabanes, vetches, oxytropes, violets, Jasper National Park appear as the rugged, precipitous cliffs and castel­ the western wood lily, wild blue flax, large- JASPER Alberta lated peaks of the Jacques and De Smet Ranges. flowered gaillardia, shooting star and the pasque (3) Mesozoic— flower, better known as the crocus anemone, Location which is also found on the prairies. Other wild- These younger rocks are softer and have been flowers are Macoun's gentian, bunchberry, twin- Jasper National Park lies along the eastern stripped off the higher mountains by the processes NATIONAL slopes of the Rocky Mountains with its townsite flower, wintergreens, asters, arnicas, water willow- of erosion. They tend to be preserved only in the herb and its cousin, the great willow-herb or 235 miles west of the City of Edmonton. valleys between the great palaeozoic mountain fireweed, Indian paint brush, elephant's head, Its southern boundary crosses the vast Colum­ ranges, where they form areas of low, undulating pentstemon, larkspur, columbine and several bia Icefield and the total Park area of 4,200 relief and where they can be seen in the steep interesting orchids such as the calypso, hooded PARK square miles makes it the second largest of the sides of some of the rivers, as for instance at ladies'-tresses, small white lady's-slipper and the National Parks in Canada. Snake Indian Falls. In places they have been round-leaved orchid. The detailed map in this folder has been pre­ crumbled and folded into structures called anti­ ALBERTA Some very interesting flowers are found around pared especially to assist visitors to identify clines and synclines. and above timberline (approximately 7,000 feet readily the various features of the Park. The great Columbia Icefield (150 square miles) altitude) among them red and pink mountain- is shared by Jasper and Banff National Parks. Much heath, white mountain-heather, forget-me-not, Purpose of it is above 8,500 feet in elevation and some mountain rhododendron, Arctic harebell, one- above 10,000 feet. It is the largest sheet of glacial Jasper National Park is one of Canada's 18 flowered wintergreen, moss-campion, and northern ice on this continent outside of the Arctic Circle. National Parks which form a chain of nature gentian. sanctuaries extending from Mount Revelstoke in From this icefield many valley glaciers reach Some of the more common shrubs found in the British Columbia to Terra Nova in Newfound­ down to about 6,000 feet. One of the most spec­ Park are wild rose, buffaloberry, willow, alder, land. These parks have been established for the tacular of these, Athabasca Glacier, is easily juniper, shrubby cinquefoil, silverberry, Saskatoon preservation of selected areas in their natural state accessible from the Banff-Jasper Highway near berry, Labrador tea, red osier dogwood, and two for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of the southern entry to the Park. Here there are kinds of bearberry. present and future generations of Canadians. crevasses, cascades of meltwater, interesting This vast area of nearly 29,350 square miles is Glacial waters carve their way through solid rock water channels in the ice, rock tables, and mo­ A young cow moose in sanctuary. administered by the Department of Northern at Punch Bowl Falls in Maligne Canyon. raines of several kinds. These and other interest­ Affairs and National Resources. ing glacial features may also be seen at Angel the history of the earth is represented in the rocks Glacier, on the flank of Mount Edith Cavell. The which were laid down in the Mesozoic, the time great masses of rock debris or moraines at both NATURAL FEATURES when reptiles dominated the earth and forests these places give a startling impression of the gradually approached those that we know today. power of erosion of glaciers. Geological The latest chapter in earth's history, the Cenozoic, A prime example of water erosion is Maligne The great movements within the earth's crust a time when mammals appeared and became suc­ Canyon. This great gash, almost 200 feet deep which have formed the mountains of Jasper cessful and, in quite recent geological times, man with nearly vertical walls less than 10 feet apart National Park have exposed rocks ranging in age appeared on the scene. in some places, has been cut through Palaeozoic from the most ancient to the most recent. Some Examples of these types of rocks are as follows: limestones by centuries of ceaseless wear by a of the rocks were laid down in the earliest defined (1) Precambrian and Cambrian— small stream of runinng water. era in the history of this planet, the Precambrian. Pyramid Mountain, six miles north of Jasper, At this time in earth's history the lands were Mount Athabasca and the Ramparts of Tonquin PlanHife naked of vegetation and in the seas there lived Valley, and Mount Columbia on the Continental only a very few primitive invertebrates and algae. The Park is in the montane plant zone, making Divide. All have characteristic pyramid or bee­ Many of the mountains in the Park display great it botanically one of the most interesting areas hive shaped summits. thicknesses of rocks which were laid down in the of the country. Plants characteristic of both the next era, the Palaeozoic. This was a time of (2) Palaeozoic— prairies and the mountains grow in profusion rapid development of living things with plants Mountains in the eastern part of Jasper Park, throughout the Park, with a few arctics in the spreading over the lands and a vast increase in Roche a Perdrix (Fiddle Range) and Roche higher altitudes to intrigue the botanist. The animal life. Fishes swarmed in the seas and the Miette (summit of Miette Range) show folded flowers present an ever-changing carpet of colour reptiles had appeared. A third major chapter in strata, broken into large fault blocks and thrust for most of the summer season. Most of the trees in the Park are evergreen. includes an Interpretive Officer during the summer Camping Inexperienced climbers should obtain the services At the lower altitudes Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, months who conducts tours and campfire talks to of a guide and full information concerning the There are 11 campgrounds readily accessible black and western white spruce are common. At explain the purpose and natural features of this necessary equipment. to motoring visitors. Two of these, at Cotton­ National Park. Many of these nature talks are the higher altitudes Englemann spruce, western wood Creek and Miette Hot Springs, are ser­ illustrated by coloured slides and motion pictures. Pets white pine and alpine fir can be found. In some viced campgrounds and a nominal charge is made Interesting films, of an interpretative nature, are valleys, and creeping up to the lower benches of for their use. Dogs and cats may accompany visitors into the mountains may be found aspen poplar, bal­ presented frequently in the evenings at the vari­ the park. For the protection of park animals At Cottonwood Creek there are kitchen, laun­ sam poplar and birch which turn a brilliant gold ous campgrounds. Well marked nature trails of a however, dogs must be kept on leash. dry, and washrooms facilities with showers. Elec­ in the autumn and make a striking contrast to self-guiding type are laid out in various areas. trical plug-ins for trailers are available. the dark evergreens, while above, on the north­ Detailed information about the park is available Motor Licence At Miette Hot Springs, kitchens, washroom eastern slopes may be seen coppery-hued shrubs. at the Park Information Bureau. facilities and drinking water are available. Motoring visitors entering the Park are required Club-mosses, miniature forms of the giants of to obtain a Park motor vehicle licence at the No charge is made for use of the other nine How to See the Interesting Features entrance. This licence is good in all the National the coal age, are to be found at Sunwapta Falls camp-grounds which provide individual tent sites, While roads lead to many of the interesting Parks for the entire season. and other localities in the Park. Small ferns are cooking facilities, drinking water and sanitary Park features, the best way to gain a full appre­ quite rare. arrangements. ciation of nature in the Park is to use the trails. Motor-Boats Picnic shelters and wayside tables are located Wildlife White-tailed ptarmigan in winter dress. A large number of visitors gain considerable satis­ at various points throughout the Park as indi­ Boating is a popular pastime in the Park, faction from walking or riding over the more The Park is a wildlife sanctuary in which wild cated on the map. Most of these free picnic sites although visitors may operate motor-boats only than 600 miles of well kept trails. Many areas animals are protected from hunting and trapping; Fish have a kitchen shelter with firewood, water, and on Pyramid and Medicine Lakes. Boat trips on consequently, many have become accustomed to Modern methods of fish management are fol­ of exceptional natural interest and beauty are sanitary facilities. Medicine and Maligne Lakes are offered by pri­ close association with humans and have lost their lowed to improve the angling in lakes and streams within a day's travel along the trails to the high vate interests. fear of man. This permits observation of them in the Park. A regular stocking program is car­ lakes and alpine meadows. For those with the Preservation at close range, but they are still wild animals and time and inclination, Jasper is one of the chief ried out from the fish hatchery under the guidance National Parks are selected areas set apart as should be viewed and photographed with caution.