Banff National Park, Alberta  Aug. 2, 2024

Amidst the Rocky Mountains in Banff National Park, Alberta, a family of Canadian geese glides across the lake in today’s image. Established in 1885 as Canada"s first national park, its history is intertwined with that of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The park"s discovery was fuelled by workers laying tracks through the wilderness when they came across a hot water spring, which is now a part of the park. These lands were once walked by Indigenous peoples including the Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut"ina, Cree and Kainaiwa, and later by European explorers. It now offers refuge to diverse wildlife, like the mountain bluebird, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and Canadian goose. The park covers an area of 6,641 square kilometres.

© Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images/Moment/Getty Images

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