National parks of Canada

National parks of Canada
Parcs Nationaux du Canada (French)


Herbert Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta

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


Distribution and location of national parks in 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]

  1. ^ a b Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (November 30, 2023). "National parks - Parks Canada - National parks". parks.canada.ca. Retrieved April 12, 2024.