What I know about Canadian

Some thing I know about the mountain

The Canadian Rockies are famous the world over for their spectacular scenery and pristine wilderness. The “shining Mountain” as they were known to early aboriginal peoples, comprises a mountainous region in Western Canada of 180,000 sq. km (69,500 sq. mi.). They cover a large area of western Alberta and eastern British Columbia.

The geology of these mountains is primarily sedimentary rock up to 1.5 billion years old. Over   a period of 100 million years, the collision of the Earth’s plates caused sediments on the sea bottom of the west-coast continental shelf to be fractured and broken rock form the awe-inspiring peaks of today.

The highest mountain in the Canada is lofty Mount Robson; this is located just west of jasper National park. It reaches an impressive height of 3,954 m (12,972 ft.), but there are many peaks in the Canada that stand above 3,500m (11,480 ft.).

Over a hundred year ago, some forward thinking Canadians were inspired to conserve these ranges in a series of national and provincial parks. Today, the parks play a vital role as living nature sanctuaries, for all to experience and treasure.

The shape of Mount Rundle, near the Banff town site, displays the classic lines of an “over thrust” mountain, resulting from sheets of rock sliding up and over each other during mountain building.

A colorful sunrise paints Rundle’s distinctive slopes and their reflection in the calm water of the Vermilion Lakes, right. Sulphur Mountain, the location of Banff’s famous Hot Springs, stands beside in silhouette.

Mount Edith Cavell:

This picturesque peak has been called many names over the years. It was originally named "la Montagne de la Grande Traverse" because it looms over the Athabasca Pass. It has also been called "Fitzhugh" and "Geikie". In 1916, the mountain was officially named Mount Edith Cavell after a historically significant English nurse from Norfolk, England.

Edith Cavell worked in Brussels, Belgium as a nurse during World War I. She tended to injured German soldiers after the German occupation, but fell in with an underground group that helped allied soldiers escape to Holland. In 1915, a spy for the Germans asked her to help him escape, and when she agreed she was promptly arrested. She was tried with treason and sentenced to death. Despite consternation by the international community, she was executed on October 12, 1915. The Premier of British Columbia named the mountain after her as a testament to her bravery and strength. The rugged snow-capped beauty of Mount Edith Cavell, one of the highest peaks in the Jasper area, rises above the shimmering water of Cavell Lake.

The steep walls and turrets of Castle Mountain, left, are trademarks of the “castellated” peaks commonly seen in the Rockies.

Castle Mountain overlooks the Bow River, halfway between Banff and Lake Louise. Prospecting for minerals once revealed promising deposits of copper and lead in the mountain, but these were never developed. Such exploration is now prohibited.

Mount Columbia:

It left, the highest mountain in Alberta, is a typical “horn” mountain, its triangular shape the result of simultaneous glaciations on different sides of the peak.

The Ramparts, right, location in Jasper and straddling the Continental Divide between Alberta and British Columbia, form one of the great mountain walls of the Canada.

Cascade Mountain

This is a familiar land mark in Banff, where it provides a stunning back drop behind Banff avenues, left. The summer view of this mountain is edged with the beautiful flowers beds and garden of the Banff park administration centre, right.

Mountain Temple

Mighty mount temple, right, is the highest peak in the Lake Louise area, with an elevation of 3, 544 m (11,627 ft).

The steep summit of Mount Assiniboine, left, town above surrounding peak southwest of Banff. This impressive is accessible only on foot or by helicopter.

The three Sisters, Canmore

A trio of peaks known as the three sisters, left, is the signature landmark of Canmore, a thriving mountain community east of Banff.

The magnificent Continental Range, right, on the eastern edge of the Rockies, is part of David Thompson Country. This pristine protected area is named for an early explorer.