Geography Diversity is the keynote of Canada's geography, which includes fertile plains suitable for agriculture, vast mountain ranges, lakes and rivers. Wilderness forests give way to Arctic tundra in the Far North. There are of course many climatic variations in this huge country, ranging from the permanently frozen icecaps north of the 70th parallel to the luxuriant vegetation of British Columbia's west coast. On the whole, though, Canada has four very distinct seasons, especially in the regions lying along the U.S. border. Daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35 o C and higher, while lows of -25 o C are not uncommon in winter.
More moderate temperatures are the norm in spring and fall.
The Canadian government has set aside more than 100 national parks and historic sites in honour of the people, places and events that have marked the country's history. Similarly, the provincial governments may form provincial parks and historic sites. Canada's 38 national parks and national reserves are spread throughout the country. Banff, located on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, is the oldest, having opened in 1885, while Tuktut Nogait in the Northwest Territories was established as recently as 1996. At 6050 m, Mount Logan in the Yukon is Canada's tallest peak.