Situated in Alberta's Rockies on the Trans-Canada Highway, Banff is a little town in Alberta, Canada and part of Banff National Park, the oldest national park in the entire country. Banff was actually the first municipality to become an incorporated town or city within a national park in Canada. It covers an area of 7.5 square miles and has a relatively low population of less than 8,000 people, but attracts huge numbers of visitors each and every year. Banff is a very popular resort town and got its start back in the late 19th century.

The range in elevation of the town of Banff

The range in elevation of the town of Banff

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Elevation is a key geographical statistic that denotes the height of a location in relation to the mean sea level of Earth. It is most commonly measured in feet or meters and has various practical uses. The elevation of an area has a strong influence on its climate, with high elevation areas often having colder average temperatures than low-lying locations. The elevation of the town of Banff ranges from as low as 4,600 feet (1,400 m) up to a high point of 5,350 feet (1,630 m).

The highest point in the Banff National Park is either Mt Forbes

The highest point in the Banff National Park is either Mt Forbes

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The highest point in the Banff National Park is either Mt Forbes, which has an elevation of 11,850 feet (3,612 m), or Mr Assiniboine, which is on the border between Banff National Park and Assiniboine Provincial Park and has an elevation of 11,870 feet (3,618 m). For a long time, it was believed that Mt Forbes had the highest elevation in the area, but recent findings suggest that Mt Assiniboine is technically classed as being included in the park. The highest point in Banff's home province of Alberta is Mount Columbia, which is part of the Canadian Rockies and has an elevation of 12,293 feet (3,747 m).

Banff Elevation compared to other areas

Banff Elevation compared to other areas

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Despite featuring many mountainous areas, the average elevation of Canada is relatively low at 1,598 feet (487 m). The highest point in the country is Mount Logan, which is situated at an elevation of 19,551 feet (5,959 m) and is the second highest peak in all of North America, while the lowest point in the country is the Atlantic Ocean, which is at sea level. Major cities in Alberta, Canada include Calgary, which has an elevation of 3,428 feet (1,045 m), Edmonton, which has an elevation of 2,116 feet (645 m), and Red Deer, which is located at an elevation of 2,805 feet (855 m).