Canada is a huge country, second largest in the world, and, as such, has a wealth of natural wonders. Parts of the country are so remote that there may be other wonders which have not yet been discovered, but here is my current list. Look for the photo album which follows.
1. Banff National Park, Alberta. This park which occupies the southwestern boundary of Alberta is Canada’s oldest national park, established in 1885. The Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise, built by the Canadian Railroad, encouraged tourism to the area, and visits have never abated, due to the spectacular mountain scenery.
2. Niagara Falls, Ontario (with the United States). Niagara Falls has long been one of the world’s favorite honeymoon and travel destinations. The Niagara River plunges almost 200 feet in an incredible display of power. Canada’s falls are known as the Horseshoe Falls and wider and more dramatic than the American falls. Numerous activities abound in the area, the most popular of which are the Maid of the Mist boats which take visitors to the base of the horseshoe falls, and the Journey Behind the Falls, which explores tunnels in the escarpment.
3. Jasper National Park, Alberta. This huge park which abuts Banff National Park (see above) extends northward into the Canadian Rockies and includes much of the Columbia Icefield and its associated glaciers. Particular highlights include the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s greatest scenic drives, and Mount Athabasca as well as numerous lakes. A wonderful activity here is to ride a Snocoach onto a glacier.
4. Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick. These "flowerpot rocks" are offshore sea stacks which, because of the incredible tidal differences here, are completely exposed during low tide. A nearby sign invites visitors to "walk on the seafloor." The best way to appreciate this phenomenon is to time your visit so that you can experience both low and high tides.
5. Fundy National Park, New Brunswick. The province of New Brunswick’s first national park features the largest tidal bore in the world. Besides access to this coastal area, there are numerous walking trails and other recreational opportunities available.
6. Yoho National Park, British Columbia. Just west of Banff National Park (see above), this park features Canada’s highest waterfall, Takkakaw Falls, as well as
several tall mountains, many lakes and numerous walking and hiking trails.
7. Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. This park is contiguous with Glacier National Park, in Montana, USA, and together they form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a groundbreaking cooperative effort between two nations to preserve and protect this vast area. Any visit should include a visit to the Prince of Wales Hotel which overlooks the Waterton Lakes, Canada’s deepest.
Other sights considered:
Montmorency Falls, Quebec.
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
Kootenay National Park, British Columbia.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia.
Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland.
Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta.
