Cave and Basin National Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave and Basin National Historic Site |
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The Cave at Cave and Basin National Historic Site
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| Location | Banff, Alberta, Canada |
| Elevation | 1,405 m (4,610 ft) |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Founder | Three CPR workers |
| Built | 1916 (pool structure) |
| Governing body | Parks Canada and Municipality of Banff |
The Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada is a special place in Banff, Alberta. It's located in the amazing Canadian Rockies mountains. This site is famous for its natural thermal mineral springs. These hot springs are where Banff National Park, Canada's very first national park, began!
Contents
Discovering Hot Springs at Cave and Basin
How the Hot Springs Formed
The Cave and Basin is one of nine hot springs found on Sulphur Mountain. These springs are all along a special crack in the Earth called the Sulphur Mountain Thrust Fault. The water gets super hot deep underground, about three kilometres down! Then, it bubbles up to the surface.
The Cave and Basin is the only hot spring here that has a large cave where groups of people can easily visit. It's a unique natural wonder.
A Long History of Visitors
People have lived in this area for a very long time, over 10,700 years! It's very likely they knew about these hot springs. The first time someone wrote about the springs was in 1859. This was by James Hector during an expedition.
Later, in 1875, Joe Healey found the Cave and Basin site. But it was three workers from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) who made the site famous. Their names were William McCardell and Frank McCabe.
In 1883, they climbed down into the cave through an opening in the roof. The next year, they built a small cabin. They wanted to make the Cave and Basin a place for people to visit and enjoy.
Canada's First National Park
How Banff National Park Began
Many people wanted to claim the hot springs for themselves. Because of this, the Canadian government stepped in. In 1885, the government decided to protect the area. They set aside about 10 square miles around the Cave and Basin. This protected area was called the Banff Hot Springs Reserve.
This decision was super important! It was the very beginning of Canada's national parks system. It meant that special natural places would be protected for everyone to enjoy.
Early Buildings and Activities
In 1886, a special tunnel was built into the Cave and Basin. This made it easier for visitors to explore the cave. In 1912, people even bottled water from the site! They thought it had special healing powers.
A swimming pool heated by the natural hot springs opened in 1914. People loved swimming in the warm water until it closed in 1994.
The Cave and Basin was officially named a national historic site in 1981. In 1985, Canada's national parks celebrated 100 years! This was based on the date the government first protected the Cave and Basin area.
What You Can See Today
Exploring the Site
Today, you can visit the Cave and Basin and see many interesting things. There's an artificial tunnel that leads into the natural grotto (the cave). You can also see a copy of the first bathhouse built in 1887.
The swimming pool from 1916 has been restored. While you can't swim in it anymore, the buildings now have displays. These displays teach you all about the history and nature of the site. There are also hiking and snowshoe trails to explore.
Building the Site
Many of the early buildings at the Cave and Basin were built by people who were held in a nearby camp during World War I. These were often people from countries that Canada was at war with at the time. A special exhibit about this history opened at the site in 2013.
The Banff Upper Hot Springs is another hot spring facility. It's about 5 kilometres away from the Cave and Basin.
Protecting Nature at Cave and Basin
Caring for the Cave
When the Cave and Basin was first discovered, many of its delicate cave formations were removed. Even back in 1887, building the tunnel into the cave caused some debate.
Unique Animals
The hot springs at Cave and Basin are home to some very special animals. In 1924, a type of fish called western mosquitofish were put into the springs to help control mosquitos.
Sadly, some tropical fish were illegally put into the lower springs. This might have caused another fish, the Banff longnose dace, to disappear forever.
The Cave and Basin hot springs are also the only home for a tiny creature called the Banff Springs snail. This snail is very rare. It was listed as an endangered species in 2000. This means it's in danger of disappearing, and we need to protect it!
Images for kids
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Cave and Basin National Historic Site
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Cave and Basin National Historic Site
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Cave and Basin National Historic Site
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Cave and Basin National Historic Site
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Cave and Basin National Historic Site
