What Makes Canada Cool?
The Athabasca Glacier on the Icefields Parkway is the most accessible glacier in the world
Icefields Parkway - the world's most accessible glacierPhoto by Lucy Izon
 Icefields Parkway, Jasper Nat Park, Alberta - The 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper is one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Called the Icefields Parkway, it passes about 100 of the frozen rivers, and nudges the base of the most accessible glacier in the world. The Athabasca Glacier spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space. View it from the highway, where you’ll also find an elaborate interpretive center, or hop aboard a six-wheel all-terrain ‘Ice Explorer' for a one-hour tour that includes a walk on the 30-storey deep ice. At one time this glacier reached right to the road, but global warming has caused an estimated 40% reduction in size over the past 125 years. You can self-drive the Parkway or take a tour/shuttle.


Click on the Canada Cool Map below and discover destinations nation wide that make Canada Cool
Lucy Izon Travel Journalist
Canada t-shirts, bumper-stickers, hats
 Canada Cool Travel Map
Chinese translation
French translation
Japanese translation German translation
Italian translation Spainish translation
(c) 2005-2008 Lucy Izon - Please link to this site
Canada Cool provides information for your entertainment. It is not responsible for the services provided by tourism operators and advertisers.