Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park, originally established in 1885 (thirteen years after the establishment of the world’s first national park). This photograph illustrates two of the main ecoregions within the park, the nearly vegetation-free alpine and the lower-elevation subalpine.
In comparison with this photograph of a mountain in the park, the tree-line is not as well-defined. The rugged, rocky slope prevents both soil and seedling establishment in many places. It is also safe to say that periodic avalanches curtail the progression of forest cover on the slopes.

Another beautiful picture, Daniel. It’s going in my keeper file!
Really beautiful Daniel. I always get excited when geology meets horticulture. Is the autumn colour from Aspens?
For the most part, these are Populus – I saw both Populus tremuloides and Populus balsamifera subsp. trichocarpa in the park. I suspect these are the former.
Wow.
this goes in my keep this file
just wonderful
i wonder how many people paint
and draw from this site
camera work is so good
perhaps you will present
us with a calendar big wall calendar
What an interesting photograph. It gives me a since of what real mountains are like. Just to see the tree lines and the colours from the rock to the trees.
Thank you for this great photograph,
Margaret-Rae