Glacier Skywalk

Jasper Columbia Icefield History

The Columbia Icefield is the largest ice field in North America's Rocky Mountains. Located within the Canadian Rocky Mountains astride the Continental Divide along the border of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, the Columbia Icefield lies partly in the northwestern tip of Banff National Park and partly in the southern end of Jasper National Park. It is about 325 square kilometres (125 sq mi) in area, 100 metres (330 ft) to 365 metres (1,198 ft) in depth and receives up to 7 metres (280 in) of snowfall per year.

Jasper Columbia Icefield Formed During the Great Glaciation - Athabasca Glacier

The Columbia Icefield was formed during the Great Glaciation, or Illinoisan period (238,000 to 126,000 BCE). The initial advancement of the ice field ended during the latter millennia of the Early Wisconsinan period (73,000 to 62,000 BCE), around the time Homo sapiens began to appear on the earth. The next major advance of the ice field occurred during the Late Wisconsinan period (18,000 to 9,000 BCE), which marked the end of the major intercontinental land mass bridges.

During the Crowfoot Glacier advance (9,000 to 7,000 BCE), humans were beginning to learn farming along the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers. The last major period of advance occurred during the Little Ice Age, which lasted from about 1,200 to 1900 AD.

Around 1800, the Athabasca Glacier peaked, then went through a period of recession, and then advanced again until 1840, when Athabasca Glacier began receding, as it still does present day.

Jasper Columbia Icefield Home

More Jasper & Banff Columbia Icefield Tours

Jasper Columbia Icefield Maligne Lake 2 Day Tour | Columbia Icefield Tour with Glacier Skywalk from Banff | Glacier Day Tour: Calgary, Bow Lake, Columbia Icefield | Glacier Skywalk and Athabasca Glacier Tour from Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre | Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks | Glacier Skywalk | Athabasca Falls