Canada Province of Alberta Banff and Bow river

Banff was first settled in the 1880s, after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley. In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers stumbled upon a series of natural hot springs on the side of Sulphur Mountain. In 1885 Canada established a federal reserve of 26 km² around the Cave and Basin hot springs, and began promoting the area as an international resort and spa as a way to support the new railway. In 1887, the reserve area was increased to 673 km² and named "Rocky Mountain Park." This was the beginning of Canada's National Park system. The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace in Banffshire, Scotland. The Canadian Pacific built a series of grand hotels along the rail line and advertised the Banff Springs Hotel as an international tourist resort.In 1985 the United Nations declared Banff National Park as one of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Park a World's Heritage Site. You may also have a look at Bow river, its really nice.

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Banff as we saw it along the main street in 2011

Its very nice along the river

Banff Springs Hotel. World largest when build in 1887

Bow river have a nice little waterfall just behind Banff Springs hotel

and rafting is possible too

Animals we met early in the morning

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