Glacier National Park Travel Information
Known to many as the "Crown of the Continent", Glacier National Park
encompasses over 1,000,000 acres of forests, alpine meadows, rivers
and lakes. Glacier's jagged mountain horns & visually spectacular
peaks soar upwards of 10,000 feet as they form the Continental Divide.
Modern tourist visitation began in the late 1800's with the arrival of
the Great Northern Railroad's Empire Builder Line and hasn't slowed
much since. This early interest in the area left Glacier with over
350 structures now listed on the National Register of Historic Sites
and six designated National Historic Landmarks. Dedicated as the
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in 1932, this
boarder-spanning national park system celebrates the longstanding
peace and friendship between the US & Canada and continues to be the
only one of its kind in the world. Glacier National Park and Waterton
Lakes National Park have both been designated as Biosphere Reserves
and were recognized in 1995 together as a World Heritage
Site. Glacier's diverse habitats, from rainforest to high tundra,
are home to over 260 species of birds and 70 species of mammals
including Ursus arctos Horribilis (better known as the Grizzly Bear).
These same spectacular landscapes are an outdoor enthusiasts'paradise
and include over 700 miles of maintained trails that lead deep into
one of the largest intact ecosystems in the continental US. Over 50
glaciers still exist in the park, though the majority of them are
dramatically receding due to warming environmental temperatures and
decreasing yearly snowfall. Glacier National Park is a remarkable
place and its marvelous vistas, flora & fauna will remain vivid in any
visitors memory long after their vacation is through.
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