Jasper

Jasper is a specialized municipality in western Alberta, Canada. It is the commercial center of Jasper National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies in the Athabasca River valley.

Jasper is 362 kilometres (225 mi), or approximately 3 1/2 hours west of Edmonton. Jasper is 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Banff, Alberta, with the Icefields Parkway connecting the Jasper townsite to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It was established as a specialized municipality on July 20, 2001 and the governance of Jasper is shared between the Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada Agency.

Jasper House was first a Northwest Company, and later Hudson's Bay Company, fur trade outpost on the York Factory Express trade route to Fort Vancouver on the lower Columbia River.

Jasper National Park was established in 1907, with the Canadian Northern Railway beginning service to Jasper in 1912. The Jasper townsite was surveyed in 1913 by H. Matheson. By 1931, Jasper was accessible by road from Edmonton, and in 1940 the scenic Icefields Parkway opened, connecting Banff and Jasper.

Jasper is located in the Athabasca River valley, at the confluence with Miette River. It lies between the Victoria Cross Ranges (north-west), Pyramid Mountain (north), Maligne Range (south-east) and Indian Ridge (south-west). Jasper is connected to the west via the Yellowhead Highway and the Yellowhead Pass to Prince George and to the east to Edmonton. Toward the south, the Icefield Parkway leads to Banff and Banff National Park.

Located near Jasper are Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake, as well as Lake Annette, Lake Edith, Lac Beauvert, and numerous other small lakes. The Jasper Tramway, which takes visitors to Whistlers Summit and the Marmot Basin ski resort, is also located near the town site, as is the luxurious Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. The Jasper - Yellowhead Museum is located in the Jasper town site, as is the Jasper Visitor Centre.