This massive transboundary park system is nearly the size of an entire nation

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning the border of Canada and the United States, this international park system is the largest protected area of its kind in the world. Encompassing nearly 100,000 square kilometres of rugged wilderness, it protects iconic species and record-breaking geological wonders that define the landscape of the North American northwest.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the park system covers 98,391.21 square kilometres across Yukon, Alaska, and British Columbia. Its scale is immense, rivaling the landmass of South Korea. This vast territory is composed of four distinct protected areas: Kluane National Park and Reserve, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park. The latter is notable for its collaborative management with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.

The region is defined by extreme geological features, including the world’s largest non-polar icefield and the Malaspina Glacier, which holds the title of the largest piedmont glacier on Earth. Visitors and researchers also find the Nabesna Glacier, the longest interior valley glacier globally, and Mount Logan, which stands as Canada’s highest peak and the second-highest in North America at 5,959 metres. These landforms create a diverse environment that supports a wide array of flora, such as white spruce and the wedge-leaved primrose.

Beyond its physical grandeur, the park system serves as a critical biological refuge. It hosts the world’s largest concentrated population of Dall sheep and provides essential habitat for grizzly bears, caribou, wolverines, and rare bird species like the Kittlitz's murrelet. Historically, the area supported commercial fishing for species like salmon, Tanner crab, and Pacific halibut, but these activities were officially phased out by 2023. Today, the site stands as a testament to international cooperation in conservation, distinct from other shared sites like the Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park.

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