Jasper National Park

By: Archie Powell C Period

Located in the province of Alberta, Canada Largest national park in Canadian Rockies It is north of Banff National Park and west

of the City of Edmonton. Spans 10,878 sq. km.

Location

Weather this time of year is very cold and snowy

Temperatures usually stay in the negatives and snows almost everyday

Climate consists of long summer days but an overall short season

July warmest month with temperatures around 22.5 degrees Celsius

Snowy summers

Long winters with periods of cold stormy weather

January coldest month with temperatures less than -9.4 degrees Celsius

Mountainous terrains consist of a variety of micro-climates

Altitude and wind are main causes Every rise of 300 meters = 1.7 degrees

Celsius

Many dramatic mountain peaks and expansive valleys, few glaciers

Highest peak in Alberta is Mt. Columbia at 3782 meters

Lowest peak in park is 985 meters above sea level near park’s east gate

Contains ranges of mountains for Continental divide

Divided into three life zones - montane, subalpine, alpine

Montane- warm, and dry found only on bottoms of the Athabasca and Miette Valleys in Jasper

Alpine- howling winds that scour the rocky earth, most intricate of the three life zones

Subalpine- dark and wet, great sweeping forest that curls around mountainsides

http://www.travelchannel.com/Places_Trips/Destinations/North_America/Canada/Alberta/Jasper/Top_5_In_Jasper

Some major river systems originate in park including: North Saskatchewan River, Athabasca, and Smoky River

Many other small lakes and rivers run in and through the park

Contains many waterfalls and hot springs, ponds, marshes

Sometimes waters and waterfalls freeze because of freezing climate

Ranges of plants related largely to the tolerances to cold, heat and drought.

Other elements that play part are climate, geology, soil, altitude

Grasslands occur in the warmest, driest portions of the park

Forests occur in moderate environments

The trees cannot grow in cold conditions, including high altitudes above about 2200 meters

Forests do not exist in these high altitudes and are replaced by low shrub and wildflower communities.

• 53 species of mammals• Small mammals, dog family, deer family, cat family, bear family, weasel family, goat family, and she family• Majority species are small mammals• Wide range of environments are inhabited by various combinations of animals• Climate, geology, soil, and plants, highly influence the species of animals an ecosystem provides for

Some animals we are familiar with inside include: moose, deer, sheep, goat, coyote, wolf, cougar, black bear, grizzly bear, beaver, and porcupine

Park has lists of guidelines to follow to try to keep visitors safe from animals

Erosion and deposition Decline in biodiversity Loss of montane grasslands Overgrowth of some forested areas,

especially increase in the canopy Manage forest insects and diseases Last year 132 animals struck and killed by

drivers in park Many More!!!