EXPLORE THE WATERTON GLACIER INTERNATIONAL PEACE PARK with this slideshow, check the location map and get all the facts and information below.

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park

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Location and Values: This transfrontier site covers Canada’s Waterton Lakes and the USA’s adjoining Glacier National Parks along the international border in the high Rocky Mountains. It includes some of the most spectacular mountain scenery, including the most southerly concentration of permanent glaciers in North America.

Conservation Status and Prospects. According to IUCN’s recent Conservation Outlook Assessment the conservation status of this site is ‘good with some concerns’. The IUCN report notes that ‘existing threats are moderate to high and include invasive species, glacier retreat, residential and commercial development on the boundaries and road corridors. All threats are known and actively being addressed through management action and research. However, their cumulative impacts need to be taken into account to ensure connectivity between species population. Climate change offers the greatest potential threat and may cause significant impact to the site’s unique ecological complexes but the effects of potential energy development could further fragment connectivity and wildlife migration across international boundaries. While there are both existing and potential threats, overall, the threats are being actively addressed through research and management action, although funding limits available resources to apply to problems.’

Links:
Google Earth
Official UNESCO Site Details
IUCN Conservation Outlook
UNEP-WCMC Site Description
Birdlife IBA

Slideshow description

The photos in this slideshow are intended to ‘tell the story’ of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, showing the area’s dramatic mountain landscapes, lakes and glaciers, plants and animals, people, threats and conservation needs. The photos were taken in early June when the Logan Pass remained blocked with winter snow, preventing road access to the higher parts of the park. Nevertheless the slideshow includes photos of many of the ‘prime locations’ including (on the US side of the border) the Many Glacier area, Saint Mary Lake, Lake MacDonald, the Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Creek. The outstanding scenery of the high mountains, glaciers and rocky peaks is best viewed from a helicopter and a series of photos from this vantage point is included. On the Canadian side of the border, areas around the Waterton Lake are shown, including the spectacular hike to Crypt Lake.

Factfile

Website Categories: Lakes, Freshwater Wetlands & Glaciers; Mountains

Area: 4,576 km2

Inscribed: 1995

Criteria:

  • Outstanding natural beauty (vii);
  • Ecological processes (ix)

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