In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway
construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of
Alberta's Rocky Mountains. From that humble beginning was born Banff National Park, Canada's
first national park and the world's third. Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles)
of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the
world's premier destination spots.