The valleys and peaks of these parks are home to hundreds of vertebrate species, from large carnivores to tiny amphibians. Millions of visitors explore the parks each year, numbers that have created some environmental concerns for Parks Canada staff. Fortunately, some of the more forward-looking organizations and businesses are dedicating resources to deal with these problems. The Icefields Parkway, arguably one of the world's most scenic drives, connects Lake Louise with the town of Jasper. The parkway is named for the hundreds of square kilometres of icefields found just over the continental divide in British Columbia.
Many glaciers are visible from the parkway.
The biggest and most famous of these is the Athabasca glacier, a popular stop for a million visitors from June to October. The centre was designed to be as environmentally benign as possible. The diesel engines in the Snocoaches use the same parts as the generators, making replacement and repair fast and efficient. The centre uses passive solar design, motion sensors to turn on lights in low-use areas, and windows that open, thus eliminating the need for air conditioning. All of these ensure that the generators run as little as possible.