Maligne Canyon

Maligne Canyon, near Jasper, Alberta, is one of Jasper National Park’s best-known natural landmarks, carved by the Maligne River through limestone of the Palliser Formation. More than 50 metres deep and in places only about 2 metres wide, it reflects karst processes that dissolved and shaped the rock over time. Its most unusual feature is the river’s hydrology: after flowing out of Medicine Lake, much of the river disappears underground for part of the year, then rejoins the surface flow at the canyon head. This concentrated water, confined by narrow walls, has created waterfalls, underground outlets, and smoothly sculpted passages.

Alberta · Canada