A stream of sun light shines through the hole in the ceiling of the cave and strikes the beautiful blue water of the hot spring at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

The place where it all started ... the discovery of the Cave and Basin was instrumental in establishing the Canadian National Parks system in Canada.

Banff National Park was the first National park in Canada, although it's original boundaries have expanded to now reach an area of 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles). There are now 43 national parks in Canada. The Cave and Basin was designated a National Historic Site in recognition of it's importance as the birthplace of the National Parks system of Canada.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Sulphur Mountain, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.