National parks of Canada | |
| |
First park | Banff National Park, 1885 |
Smallest park | Georgian Bay Islands National Park, 13.5 km2 |
Largest park | Wood Buffalo National Park, 44,807 km2 |
Governing body | Parks Canada |
National parks of Canada are vast natural spaces located throughout the country that are protected by Parks Canada, a government agency. Parks Canada manages the National Parks and Reserves in order to protect and preserve the Canadian wildlife and habitat that fall within the ecosystems of the park, keep them safe, educate visitors, and ensure public enjoyment in ways that do not compromise the area for future generations.[1] The areas that fall within Parks Canada's governance include a wide range of protected areas, encompassing National Historic Sites, National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCA), and National Park Reserves. Canada established its first national park in Banff in 1885, and has since expanded its national park system to include 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves.[1]