Located less than an hour east of Edmonton, Elk Island National Park was first established as a game sanctuary in July 1906 and now protects one of the most endangered habitats in Canada, the aspen parkland. The 194 square-kilometre park encompasses the transitional zone between the aspen parkland to the south and the boreal forest to the north. As Canada's only entirely fenced national park, Elk Island is home to herds of free-roaming plains bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk. 253 species of birds (including 137 breeding species) have been recorded in this park.