Park geography

Structured data covering alpine terrain, water features, and regional boundaries

Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta

Analyze the physical geography of Waterton Lakes National Park, spanning 505 square kilometers within Alberta. This profile outlines elevation extremes from 1290 meters to 2910 meters and catalogs internal landscape features including the Wilson Range, prominent mountain peaks, and major waterfalls.

View park overview

A stylized vector illustration of a mountain lake with pine trees and driftwood on the shore, featuring a large craggy mountain peak in the background.

Where the Rocky Mountains meet theprairies

Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park occupies the southwestern corner of Alberta, Canada, where the Rocky Mountains give way to the Canadian Prairies. Established in 1895 as the fourth Canadian national park, it was originally designated as the Kootenay Lakes Forest Reserve before taking its present name, which honors Waterton Lake and the Victorian naturalist Charles Waterton. The park spans approximately 505 square kilometers of rugged mountain terrain and wilderness, featuring a remarkable transition zone where prairie grasslands meet alpine environments. This unique positioning, alongside the park's rich geological history and diverse ecosystems, has earned it international recognition as part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1995. The park is also notable as Canada’s second biosphere reserve, established under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1979, reflecting its significance as a living laboratory for understanding human-environment relationships.

Location: Canada
Park type: National park
Established: 1895
Area: 505 km²
Highest point: 2,910 m

Waterton Lakes National Park Atlas

Location overview

Regional positioning in Alberta and transboundary conservation status

Waterton Lakes National Park Geographic Location and Settings

Waterton Lakes National Park is situated within the administrative region of Alberta in Canada. Geographic records confirm its regional placement alongside a documented transboundary status with neighboring protected areas.

Countries: Canada
Regions: Alberta
Primary location: Alberta
Geographic setting: Transboundary · Inland

Boundary and coordinates

Interactive boundary geometry and calculated area metrics

Waterton Lakes National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent

Mapped park geometry provides immediate spatial context for the protected area. Accompanying boundary facts detail total surface area and coordinate spans without survey-level precision.

Boundary area: 499.4 km²
Boundary perimeter: 144.2 km
Northernmost point: 49.2048° N
Southernmost point: 48.9975° N
Easternmost point: 113.6534° W
Westernmost point: 114.1667° W
Geographic centre: 49.0813° N, 113.9332° W
North–south span: 23.1 km
East–west span: 37.5 km

Waterton Lakes National Park

Elevation and terrain

Vertical range profile and recorded natural features

Waterton Lakes National Park Elevation and Terrain Geography

Recorded elevation spans from 1290 meters to a high point of 2910 meters across mountain terrain. Linked feature cards provide names, types, measurements, and spatial relationships.

Elevation span

1,620 m

Vertical extent from the lowest to the highest recorded elevation in the park

Minimum elevation: 1,290 m
Maximum elevation: 2,910 m
Highest point: 2,910 m

Selected named natural features

Lakes

Middle Waterton Lake

Streams

North Fork Belly River

Peaks

Mount Dungarvan

2,575 m

Peaks

Vimy Ridge

2,423 m

Lakes

Upper Waterton Lake

Peaks

Bertha Peak

2,454 m

Waterton Lakes National Park Natural Features

Environmental setting

Temperate climate zones, mountain relief, and major forest cover classifications

Waterton Lakes National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Settings

Recorded landscape features and habitat types frame the physical setting through complementary interpretive categories. Stored classifications connect recorded terrain properties to relevant atlas destinations.

Relief: Mountain
Climate: Temperate
Water: Major water bodies
Forest cover: Mostly forested
Seasonality: Year-round

Landscape features

Mountains · Valleys · Forest · Lakes · Rivers · Waterfalls · Cliffs · Beach

Habitat types

Temperate broadleaf forest · Temperate coniferous forest · Grassland · Alpine meadow · Wetland

Park atlas

Browse the regional spread of mountain-prairie transition zones, glacial features, and transboundary conservation landscapes.

Compare Protected Areas: Discover National Parks and Landscapes Near Waterton Lakes National Park

Explore a curated list of national parks and protected areas geographically connected to Waterton Lakes National Park, spanning diverse Rocky Mountain and prairie ecosystems. Compare unique landscapes, geological features like the Lewis Overthrust, and significant conservation efforts across this distinct North American region.

A digital illustration showing a mountain valley landscape with steep cliffs, dense pine forests, and a winding river under a soft, pastel-colored sky.

National parkMontana

Park boundaries overlap#1 closest

South

Glacier National Park

Explore its mapped boundaries and regional natural terrain.

Glacier National Park, in Montana, United States of America. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and lakes.

Area: 4,100.77 km²
Established: 1910
IUCN: II
Visitors: 2.9M annual

Glacier National Park Protected Area Atlas

A soft watercolor painting depicting rolling mountains in the background with a line of forest in the midground and open terrain in the foreground.

Protected landscapeMontana

41 km away#2 closest

Southwest

Kootenai National Forest: Geography and Protected Land Map for Northwestern Montana

Northern Rockies mountain ranges and watershed analysis.

Spanning over two million acres, Kootenai National Forest represents a critical protected landscape in the Northern Rockies. This atlas entry details the interplay between the Cabinet Mountains, regional river systems like the Kootenai and Clark Fork, and the dense conifer forests that define this uniquely wet corner of Montana.

Area: 8,900 km²
Established: 1907
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Temperate

Kootenai National Forest Geography

A watercolor painting depicting a soft, stylized mountain range and a river winding through a valley.

Protected landscapeMontana

72 km away#3 closest

Southeast

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest: Geographic Overview and Protected Area Map

Montana wilderness spanning the Continental Divide

Spanning from the rolling eastern plains to the crest of the Northern Rockies, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest serves as a massive protected landscape in central Montana. This forest system protects eight unique mountain ranges and critical wilderness corridors, offering a comprehensive look at the ecological transition zones of the American Mountain West.

Area: 11,000 km²
Established: 1897
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Temperate

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Atlas

Protected areaMontana

125 km away#4 closest

South

Lolo National Forest: An Atlas of Protected Lands and Mountainous Terrain in Montana

Ecological transition zone of the northern Rocky Mountains

This protected area covers two million acres of diverse northern Rocky Mountain geography. Known for its massive western red cedars and transitional ecology, the forest features a complex network of ridgelines, glacial lake basins, and river corridors that serve as vital habitat across the Montana landscape.

Area: 8,894.85 km²
Established: 1906
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Temperate

Explore Lolo National Forest Protected Areas

An illustration of a rocky mountain peak rising above a pine forest and a still body of water, with reflections visible in the foreground.

Wildlife reserveMontana

144 km away#5 closest

South

Mission Mountains Wilderness: A Rugged Protected Area in the Montana Rocky Mountains

Glacial topography and high elevation alpine ecosystems

Mission Mountains Wilderness is a defining landmark in northwestern Montana, characterized by a steep and narrow mountain spine that rises abruptly above the Flathead Valley. The area protects a full spectrum of ecosystems, from dense coniferous forests to exposed talus slopes and alpine tundra. With its glacially carved cirques and deep U shaped valleys, this wilderness functions as a key component of a larger, jointly managed regional conservation landscape in the United States.

Area: 298.97 km²
Established: 1975
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Mission Mountains Wilderness Geography

A digital illustration showing a calm, winding lake in the foreground, framed by tall evergreen trees on both sides, with a dramatic, jagged, snow-capped mountain range in the background under a soft sunrise sky.

National parkCanada

193 km away#6 closest

Northwest

Banff National Park

Mapped park boundaries and regional geographic context for Banff National Park.

Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Bow Valley lie among the peaks and glaciers of Canada's Rocky Mountains.

Area: 6,641 km²
Established: 1885
IUCN: II
Visitors: 4.1M annual

Banff National Park Geography and Atlas

A stylized illustration of a mountain valley with steep cliffs on the left, a pine forest, and a river flowing toward the viewer under a soft sunrise sky.

National parkBritish Columbia

201 km away#7 closest

Northwest

Kootenay National Park

Explore Kootenay National Park's mapped terrain and regional geography.

Kootenay National Park, in British Columbia, Canada. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and cliffs.

Area: 1,406 km²
Established: 1920
IUCN: II
Visitors: 574.1K annual

Kootenay National Park Protected Area Details

A soft watercolor illustration of a low lying river valley with trees and distant hills against a white background.

Wildlife reserveAlberta

About 203 km away#8 closest

North

Inglewood Migratory Bird Sanctuary: Federal Wildlife Reserve and Riparian Corridor Map

Protected riparian ecosystems along the Bow River in Alberta.

Analyze the geography of the Inglewood Migratory Bird Sanctuary, a federal wildlife reserve in Calgary, Alberta. This site preserves rare cottonwood floodplain forest and river habitats that serve as a critical stopover for migratory birds, offering a unique look at how protected landscapes persist within urban environments.

Area: 1.11 km²
Established: 1929
Relief: Lowland
Scope: Terrestrial

Inglewood Migratory Bird Sanctuary Map and Geography

MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Waterton Lakes National Park's Geographic and Landscape Context

Delve deeper into the structured geographic information for Waterton Lakes National Park. Understand its protected landscape identity, mapped terrain, and its unique position within Alberta's vast regional geography. This detailed exploration supports a comprehensive understanding of the park's atlas significance and its place within Canada's network of protected areas.

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