Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The park covers more than 1 million acres (4,000 km) and includes two mountain
ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), more than 130 named lakes, over 1,000 different species of plants, and hundreds of species
of animals. This vast ancient ecosystem has been referred to as the "crown of the continent ecosystem", an area of 16,000 square miles
Soon after the park was established on May11, 1910, several hotels and chalets were built by the Great Northern
National Register of Historic Places. By 1932 work had been completed on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, later designated a
National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, which provided greater access for automobiles to the heart of the park.