Glacier National Park of Canada is a protected area in southeastern British Columbia. It represents the Columbia Mountains Natural Region of the Canadian national park system. Covering 333,419 acres (134,930 hectares), the park lies within the Purcell and Selkirk mountain ranges. It has a varied landscape that includes rain forests; fir and spruce forests; and icy, rocky areas with no trees. About half of the park is above the timber line—that is, the elevation beyond which trees will not grow. A small percentage of the land is covered permanently by ice and snow. High precipitation, heavy snowfall, and moderate temperatures are typical of the climate.
Significant populations of black bears and grizzly bears inhabit Glacier National Park. Other mammals living in the park include mountain caribou, mountain goats, and wolverines. There are more than 200 species of birds, most of which migrate to warmer places during the winter. The park’s rain forest region has cedar and hemlock forests that are hundreds of years old.
Attractions in the park include the Nakimu Caves and the Rogers Pass National Historic Site. The caves consist of about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) of interconnected passageways, accessible by special permit. Rogers Pass in 1885 became the final link between eastern and western Canada in the construction of the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway. Visitors come to Glacier National Park for such activities as camping, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, and ski touring. The Canadian government established the park in 1886.
