Cave and Basin National Historic Site, National historic site in Banff National Park, Canada
Cave and Basin is a national historic site in Banff featuring naturally occurring thermal springs that emerge from Sulphur Mountain at around 30 degrees Celsius. The location includes interpretive facilities and walking paths that showcase these geothermal features and their geological setting.
Three railway workers discovered the springs in 1883, prompting the Canadian government to establish Banff as the country's first national park in 1885. This discovery marked a turning point in how Canada approached the protection of natural landscapes.
Indigenous peoples valued these thermal springs for thousands of years before European contact reached the region. Visitors can see how the site remains connected to this long history of spiritual and practical use.
The site is easily accessible with clear signage and pathways throughout the grounds. Plan to spend time exploring at your own pace, as the experience changes with the seasons and weather conditions.
The waters are home to the only known habitat of the endangered Banff Springs snail, a species found nowhere else in the world. This makes the site a crucial location for protecting this rare creature from extinction.
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