National parks in the USA

An estimated six hundred grizzly bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with more than half of the population living within Yellowstone. The grizzly is currently listed as a threatened species, however the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that they intend to take it off the endangered species list for the Yellowstone region but will likely keep it listed in areas where it has not yet recovered fully. Opponents of delisting the grizzly are concerned that states might once again allow hunting and that better conservation measures need to be implemented to ensure a sustainable population.

Population figures for elk are in excess of thirty thousand-the largest population of any large mammal species in Yellowstone. The northern herd has decreased enormously since the mid-1990s; this has been attributed to wolf predation and causal effects such as elk using more forested regions to evade predation, consequently making it harder for researchers to accurately count them. The northern herd migrates west into southwestern Montana in the winter. The southern herd migrates southward, and the majority of these elk winter on the National Elk Refuge, immediately southeast of Grand Teton National Park. The southern herd migration is the largest mammalian migration remaining in the U.S. outside of Alaska. [26]

In 2003, the tracks of one female lynx and her cub were spotted and followed for over two miles. Fecal material and other evidence obtained were tested and confirmed to be those of a lynx. No visual confirmation was made, however. Lynx have not been seen in Yellowstone since 1998, though DNA taken from hair samples obtained in 2001 confirmed that lynx were at least transient to the park. Other less commonly seen mammals include the mountain lion and wolverine. The mountain lion has an estimated population of only twenty five individuals parkwide. The wolverine is another rare park mammal, and accurate population figures for this species are not known. These uncommon and rare mammals provide insight into the health of protected lands such as Yellowstone and help managers make determinations as to how best to preserve habitats.

Eighteen species of fish live in Yellowstone, including the core range of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout-a fish highly sought by anglers. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout has faced several threats since the 1980s, including the suspected illegal introduction into Yellowstone Lake of lake trout, an invasive species which consume the smaller cutthroat trout. Although lake trout were established in Shoshone and Lewis lakes in the Snake River drainage from United States Government stocking operations in 1890, it was never officially introduced into the Yellowstone River drainage. The cutthroat trout has also faced an ongoing drought, as well as the accidental introduction of a parasite-whirling disease-which causes a terminal nervous system disease in younger fish. Since 2001, all native sport fish species caught in Yellowstone waterways are subject to a catch and release law. Yellowstone is also home to six species of reptiles, such as the painted turtle and Prairie rattlesnake, and four species of amphibians, including the Boreal Chorus Frog.

Three hundred and eleven species of birds have been reported, almost half of which nest in Yellowstone. As of 1999, twenty-six pairs of nesting bald eagles have been documented. Extremely rare sightings of whooping cranes have been recorded, however only three examples of this species are known to live in the Rocky Mountains, out of three hundred and eighty five known worldwide. Other birds, considered to be species of special concern because of their rarity in Yellowstone, include the common loon, harlequin duck, osprey, peregrine falcon and the trumpeter swan. [11]

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon National Park is the United States' fifteenth oldest national park and is located in Arizona. Within the park lies the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, considered to be one of the Wonders of the World. The park covers one million two hundred seventeen two hundred and sixty two acres of unincorporated area in Coconino and Mohave counties.

Most visitors to the park come to the South Rim, arriving on Arizona State Route sixty four. The Highway enters the park through the South Entrance, near Tusayan, Arizona, and heads eastward, leaving the park through the East Entrance. All park accommodations are operated by the Xanterra corporation. Park headquarters are at Grand Canyon Village, a short distance from the South Entrance, being also the location of the most popular viewpoints. Some thirty miles of the South Rim are accessible by road. A much smaller venue for tourists is found on the North Rim, accessed by Arizona State Route sixty seven. There is no road connection between the two within Arizona except via the Navajo Bridge, near Page, Arizona, entailing a five-hour drive. Otherwise, the two rims of the Canyon are connected via Boulder City, Nevada, and the Hoover Dam.

History

Grand Canyon National Park became a national park in 1919. So famous is this landmark to modern Americans that it seems surprising that it took more than thirty years for it to become a national park. President Theodore Roosevelt visited the rim in 1903 and exclaimed: «The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison-beyond description; absolutely unparalleled throughout the wide world…. Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness. You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is to keep it for your children, your children's children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see.»

Despite Roosevelt's enthusiasm and his strong interest in preserving land for public use, the Grand Canyon was not immediately designated as a national park. The first bill to create Grand Canyon National Park was introduced in 1882 and again in 1883 and 1886 by Senator Benjamin Harrison. As President, Harrison established the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve in 1893. Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon Game Preserve by proclamation in 1906 and Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908. Senate bills to establish a national park were introduced and defeated in 1910 and 1911. The Grand Canyon National Park Act was finally signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The National Park Service, established in 1916, assumed administration of the park.

The creation of the park was an early success of the environmental conservation movement. Its National Park status may have helped thwart proposals to dam the Colorado River within its boundaries. (Lack of this fame may have enabled Glen Canyon Dam to be built upriver, flooding Glen Canyon and creating Lake Powell.) In 1975, the former Marble Canyon National Monument, which followed the Colorado River northeast from the Grand Canyon to Lee's Ferry, was made part of Grand Canyon National Park. In 1979, UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site.

The Grand Canyon, including its extensive system of tributary canyons, is valued for its combination of large size, depth, and the exposed layering of colorful rocks dating back to Precambrian times. It was created through the incision of the Colorado River and its tributaries after the Colorado Plateau was uplifted and the Colorado River system developed along its present path. [17]

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the north-central region of the United States state of Colorado. It features majestic mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments-from wooded forests to mountain tundra-and easy access to back-country trails and campsites. The park is located northwest of Boulder, Colorado, in the Rockies, and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River.

The park has five visitor centers. The park headquarters, Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, is a National Historic Landmark, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West.

The park may be accessed by three roads: United States Highway thirty four, thirty six, and State Highway seven. Highway seven enters the park for less than a mile, where it provides access to the Lily Lake Visitor Center which is closed indefinitely. Farther south, spurs from route seven lead to campgrounds and trail heads around Longs Peak and Wild Basin. Highway thirty six enters the park on the east side, where it terminates after a few miles at Highway thirty four. Highway thirty four, known as Trail Ridge Road through the park, runs from the town of Estes Park on the east to Grand Lake on the southwest. The road reaches an elevation of twelve thousand one hundred and eighty three feet, and is closed by snow in winter.

The California Zephyr serves Granby (near the west entrance of the park) by rail from Denver, crossing the Continental Divide through the Moffat Tunnel well south of the park. The park's website suggests Granby as an appropriate rail terminus for visitors, although it lies a good sixteen miles from the park without public transportation connections.

The park is surrounded by Roosevelt National Forest on the north and east, Routt National Forest on the northwest, and Arapaho National Forest on the southwest. [12]

Climate

July and August are the warmest months in the park, where temperatures can reach the eighties although it is not uncommon to drop to below freezing at night. Thunderstorms sometimes appear in the afternoons, and visitors should plan on staying below tree line when they occur. Heavy winter snows can begin around mid-October, and last into April. While the snow can melt away from the lowest elevations of the park, deep snow is found above nine thousand feet in the winter, causing the closure of Trail Ridge and Fall River roads during the winter and spring. Most of the trails are under snow this time of the year, and snowshoeing and skiing become popular. Springs tend to be wet, alternating between rain and possibly heavy snows. These snows can occur as late as July. The west side of the park typically receives more precipitation than the drier east side.

Popular areas

The park is dominated by Longs Peak, which is visible from many vantage points, and has an elevation of fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty nine feet. Each year thousands of people attempt to scale it. The easiest route is the Keyhole Route, impassable to regular hikers in all but the hottest summer months due to snow and ice. This eight-mile one-way climb has an elevation gain of four thousand eight hundred and fifty feet. The vast east face, including the area known as The Diamond, is home to many classic big wall rock climbing routes.

Not all leave Longs Peak alive and safe. There is a stone gazebo at the Keyhole formation with a plaque memorializing Agnes Vaille, a well-known climber in the 1920s. In January 1925, Vaille fell one hundred feet while descending the North Face. Vaille survived the fall with minor injuries, but was unable to walk. Her climbing partner, professional mountaineering guide Walter Kiener, went for help; but when rescuers arrived, Vaille had died of fatigue and hypothermia.

Bear Lake, in the heart of the park, is a popular destination and trailhead. The lake lies below Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide. Several trails start from the lake, ranging from easy strolls to strenuous hikes. Bear Lake Road is open year round, though it may close temporarily due to bad weather.

Trail Ridge Road connects the town of Estes Park in the east with Grand Lake in the west. The road reaches an altitude of twelve thousand one hundred and eighty three feet, with long stretches above tree line. It passes the Alpine Visitors' Center, a popular destination, and crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass. Numerous short interpretive trails and pullouts along the road serve to educate the visitor on the history, geography, and ecology of the park.

The southern area of the park is Wild Basin, a wild and remote region. Several trails cross the area and backpacking it is popular.

The Mummy Range is a short mountain range in the north of the park. The Mummies tend to be gentler and more forested than the other peaks in the park, though some slopes are rugged and heavily glaciated, particularly around Ypsilon Mountain and Mummy Mountain.

The snow-capped Never Summer Mountains are found in the west side of the park. Here the south-trending Continental Divide takes a brief sharp northward loop, which creates an interesting reverse scenario, where the Pacific Basin is on the east side of the divide and the Atlantic Basin on the west. The mountains themselves, the result of volcanic activity, are craggy and, more often than not, covered in deep snow. This area saw the most extensive mining in the park, and trails lead past old mines and ghost towns.

Paradise Park is hidden in the peaks above Grand Lake. This rugged and wild area has no trails penetrating it. [7]

History

Evidence has shown that Native Americans have visited the area of the park for the last ten thousand years. Their influence in the region was limited, however, and their visits often transitory. The Ute Tribe visited the west side of the park, particularly around Grand Lake. The Arapaho visited and hunted in the Estes Park region.

The Long Expedition, led by Stephen H. Long, for whom Longs Peak was named, visited the area in 1820, though they never entered the mountains.

Joel Estes and his son stumbled across the meadows that eventually became Estes Park in 1859 while on a hunting expedition. He moved his family there in 1860 and raised cattle. He stayed only until 1866, forced out by long, harsh winters. In the next years, settlers and homesteaders staked their claims in the Estes Park region. Tourists, particularly those interested in climbing the high peaks of the region, appeared after this time. [22]

In 1880 a small mining rush began in the Never Summer Mountains. The mining town of Lulu City was established with great fanfare and promotion by the media, particularly by Fort Collins newspapers. The ore mined, however, was low grade; by 1883 the rush went bust, and most of the residents moved on. A satellite town, Dutchtown, was abandoned by 1884.

Enos Mills, then a fourteen year old boy, moved to Estes Park in 1884. He explored the mountains of the area and wrote many books and articles describing the region. He later supported the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, and he split his time between the mountains he loved and the cities of the eastern United States, where he lobbied for the legislation to create the park. The legislation was drafted by James Grafton Rogers, a Denver lawyer and avid outdoorsman. Mills' original proposal for park boundaries went from Wyoming all the way down to the Mount Evans area, including areas such as the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Much of the land was favored for mining, logging, and other operations, however, so the proposed park was reduced to an area approximating the current park borders. The bill passed Congress and was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on January twenty six, 1915. A formal dedication ceremony was held on September four, 1915 in Horseshoe Park. The park has expanded over the years, with the largest parcel - the Never Summer Range - added in 1929.

The 1920s saw a boom in building lodges and roads in the park, culminating with the construction of Trail Ridge Road between 1929 and 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps handled several building projects during the Great Depression and remnants of their camps can be found in the park today.

On June twenty four, 2010, a wildfire burned over one thousand five hundred acres of the park in Larimer County near Estes Park. Estes Park Fire Department believed that lightning may have started the fire. [14]

Great Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a United States National Park located in the easternmost parts of Alamosa County and Saguache County, Colorado, United States. Originally created as Great Sand Dunes National Monument on March seventeen, 1932, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was established by an act of the United States Congress on September 13, 2004. The park includes forty four thousand two hundred and forty six acres and the preserve protects an additional forty one thousand six hundred and eighty six acres.

Natural history

The park contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, rising about seven hundred and fifty feet from the floor of the San Luis Valley on the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Range, covering about nineteen thousand acres. Researchers say that the dunes started forming less than four hundred and forty thousand years ago.

The dunes were formed from sand and soil deposits of the Rio Grande and its tributaries, flowing through the San Luis Valley. Over the ages, westerly winds picked up sand particles from the river flood plain. As the wind lost power before crossing the Sangre de Cristo Range, the sand was deposited on the east edge of the valley. This process continues, and the dunes are slowly growing. The wind changes the shape of the dunes daily.

There are several streams flowing on the perimeter of the dunes. The streams erode the edge of the dune field, and sand is carried downstream. The water disappears into the ground, depositing sand on the surface. Winds pick up the deposits of sand, and blow them up onto the dune field once again.

Digging a couple inches into the dunes even at their peaks reveals wet sand. Part of the motivation of turning the Monument into a National Park was the extra protection of the water, which Colorado's cities and agriculture covet.

It is very easy to experience the dune-building process. This is a very windy region, as hikers on the Sand Dunes will attest, as on many days they will be pelted by sand and even small rocks when hiking on the dunes. The wind carries sand and rocks from many miles away. While the dunes don't change location or size that often, there are still parabolic dunes that start in the sand sheet, the outer area around the dunes, and migrate towards the main dune field. Sometimes they join the main dune field, and sometimes they will get covered with grass and vegetation and remain where they are.

The dunes are relatively stable, however their morphology changes slightly with the seasons. The direction of the wind greatly affects the dune type. The winds normally go from SW to NE, however during the late summer months, the wind direction reverses causing reversing dunes. This formation is part of the reason why the dunes are so tall.

The dunes contain areas of black sand which are deposits of magnetite, a crystalline black oxide of iron. [8]

Climate

The Great Sand Dunes sit on a large area of «High Desert» land in the San Luis Valley, just west of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. The summer temperatures of this area are not typical of normal high desert lands, although the large variation between high and low temperatures are. Low temperatures during winter nights can be exceedingly cold, with many night temperatures dropping below zero in the winter. Further off of the great sand dunes in this high desert valley, precipitation numbers are exceedingly low. However, precipitation is still very low on the great sand dunes, averaging just above eleven inches of rainfall per year. The high evaporation rates on the dunes qualify the area as desert land still, even though precipitation exceeds ten inches. It does snow on the dunes as well, but snowfall is usually very short lived in the dry and sunny climate of Colorado.

Other features

The park also contains alpine lakes and tundra, six peaks over thirteen thousand feet in elevation, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands, and wetlands - all habitat for diverse wildlife and plant species.

One of the most unusual features of the park happens at Medano Creek, which borders the east side of the dunes and is located next to the Visitor Center and Bookstore. Because fresh sand continually falls in the creek, Medano Creek never finds a permanent and stable streambed. Small underwater sand dunes that act like dams continually form and break down, and so waders in the stream see surges-which look like waves-of water flowing downstream at intervals of anywhere from just a few seconds to a minute or more. In a high-water year, these surges can be as much as a foot in height, resembling ocean waves. Building sand castles with the creek sand is a popular visitor activity, and Skimboarding is a great activity for young people to do because only an inch or two of creek depth is needed.

One of the most valued features of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is one that can't be seen. According to a recent Soundscape Study conducted by the National Park Service, this park is the quietest national park in the 48 contiguous United States.

Many visitors to the site try to sled down the dunes. The Park Service provides hints as to the best time to sled (when the sand is wet) and which equipment works best.

Visitors anytime other than winter also are advised to avoid bare feet or sandals, and stick with sturdy, closed footwear. While the sand looks alluring, its chocolate color absorbs heat. The daylight sand temperature can reach 140 degrees and will burn bare feet. [18]

Park history

The dunes and surrounding area were designated a National Monument in 1932. On November twenty two, 2000, United States President Bill Clinton signed the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000, aiming at ultimate national park status. With the help of the Nature Conservancy, the federal government purchased ninety seven thousand acres of the Baca Ranch, which in effect tripled the size of the park. The purchase includes those sections of the ranch which previously bordered the park on the north and west sides and also included fourteen thousand one hundred and sixty five feet Kit Carson Mountain and fourteen thousand and eighty feet subpeak Challenger Point, and the water drainages to the south. The land purchased was split into three sections. Part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains would be transferred to the Rio Grande National Forest, another section to the west would be set aside as a wildlife area and would host a wild bison herd and the last section to the east would be transferred from the Rio Grande National Forest and would be open to some hunting. [20]

5. Tourist trades and campings

Camping in America's national parks and monuments allows a visitor to more fully appreciate the beauty of America's natural treasures. Although sometimes crowded, National Park Service campgrounds generally offer spectacular scenery and plentiful activities. The campground at Devil's Tower National Monument (Wyoming) is situated in a grassy area with cottonwood trees lining the banks of the meandering Belle Fourche River. Campers can walk to a nearby prairie dog town or along a hiking trail that leads to the base of impressive Devil's Tower, a sacred site for many Native Americans. Flamingo Campground at the south end of Everglades National Park sits beside Florida Bay in a grassy area of palm trees and serves as an ideal location for campers to enjoy bicycling, canoeing, and hiking. Nine campgrounds along the Blue Ridge Parkway have always been among our favorites. Generally uncrowded, these campgrounds are scattered along the four hundred and sixty nine-mile scenic parkway, offering convenient places to camp along the way. The campground on Georgia's Cumberland Island National Seashore sits in a grove of magnificent live oak trees and a short distance from one of the Atlantic Ocean's most beautiful and unpopulated beaches. Campers can walk to an old Carnegie family mansion that has been destroyed by fire. The photo above is of Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. This park is best known for scenic Skyline Drive that winds along the crest of the Appalachians.

Locations

Not all areas managed by the National Park Service maintain campgrounds within the park borders. For example, the many historical areas operated by the National Park Service, including Fort Frederica National Monument, Arkansas Post National Memorial, and Tonto National Monument, do not have developed camping facilities. Likewise, National Park Service facilities in metropolitan areas generally do not have campground facilities. The majority of the major national parks including Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big Bend National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, Glacier National Park, and Death Valley National Park, each have several campgrounds. Even many smaller park units such as Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado National Monument, Joshua Tree National Park, and Lava Beds National Monument offer at least one developed campground. The campground at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho is in a huge cinder field resulting from long-ago volcanic eruptions. Camping here is certainly a unique experience. [24]

Management

Most national park campgrounds are maintained and operated by the National Park Service. These campgrounds typically offer picnic tables, grills, public bathrooms with sinks, flush toilets, sanitary stations, and individual parking spaces. Many also have dump stations. Very few campgrounds have electrical or water hookups, hot water, or showers. A shortage of personnel has caused to NPS to turn the management to some of its campgrounds over to concessionaires. For example, five of the twelve campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park are operated by Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the same firm that operates Yellowstone's nine lodging facilities. Concessionaires typically operate national park RV parks that have more elaborate facilities. RV parks are located in a limited number of national parks including Big Bend, Grand Teton, Olympic, and Yellowstone. National Park Service rangers offer evening campfire and interpretive programs at most campgrounds, especially on weekends and during busy summer months. The programs generally begin at dusk and are nearly always enjoyable and informative. Go a little early and spend time talking with a ranger or singing songs with other campers. [25]

Reservations

National park campgrounds are typically operated on a first-come, first-serve basis. This means it is in your best interest to arrive and occupy a campsite as early in the day as possible. For busy parks such as Yellowstone, Sequoia, or Glacier, we often stay at a United States Forest Service campground within a short driving distance of the park, and arise early the following morning in order to claim a campsite in the park. This isn't always necessary, but you should use good judgment based on the park you will be visiting, along with the season and day of the week you plan to visit. Some National Park Service campgrounds permit reservations. Mather Campground on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and North Rim Campground each accept reservations. If you are planning to visit the North Rim you will almost certainly want to try for a reservation because this campground is full virtually the entire season. Some large parks accept reservations for only one or two of several campgrounds. For example, Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley National Park is the only one of the park's nine campgrounds that accepts reservations by Internet or phone. Glacier National Park in Montana has thirteen campgounds, only two of which (Fish Creek and St. Mary) are subject to reservation. Reservations in Yosemite Valley campgrounds are required from March fifteen through November. The reservation system works well if you know exactly when you will be visiting a particular park. [16]

Fees

Nightly camping fees generally range between ten dollars and twenty dollars depending on the park and the particular campground you choose. Concessionaire-operated RV parks within national park units are more expensive. For example, Fishing Bridge RV Park in Yellowstone is thirty five dollars per night for up to four individuals. Colter Bay RV Park in Grand Teton National Park charges forty dollars per night. Some campgrounds are available without charge, but these often are remote or have no potable water. In general, busy parks and campgrounds with improved facilities charge at the high end of the range. Most park campgrounds accept checks or cash, but not credit cards. Senior citizens with a American the Beautiful Senior Pass and handicapped citizens with an American the Beautiful Access Pass camp for half the regular fee, even in campgrounds managed by concessionaires rather than the National Park Service. Both passes can be obtained at any national park visitor center or entrance station. The access pass is free while the senior pass has a one-time ten dollars fee. These two passports also provide free entrance to any areas in the park system. The annual America the Beautiful Pass (eighty dollars) is available to anyone and provides free park admission but no reduced fees for camping or other activities. Some parks impose a limit on the number of vehicles and the number of people who can occupy a single campsite. All parks have a limit on the length of time you can stay although the limit may be waived if the campground isn't full.

The Grand Canyon is awe inspiring and the Grand Canyon KOA is a great base camp to explore all of the Grand Canyon area, Williams, Route sixty six and all of Northern Arizona.

Camping near the Grand Canyon is an adventure into the Northern Arizona wild. The Grand Canyon KOA offers RV, tent and cabin camping within an easy drive to the South Rim. As the closest KOA to the canyon, our campground is a great base camp for all of your Arizona adventures.

Enjoy quiet nights around the campfire, far from the hustle of interstates or trains. Take in the grandeur of the star filled night's sky and name as many constellations as you can. Spend a couple of days exploring all that Northern Arizona has to offer from the red rocks of Sedona to the dramatic landscape of Sunset Crater. Indian ruins, historic towns and a diverse array of wildlife are just a few of the wonderful things to explore from the comfort of the Grand Canyon KOA. [30]

Conclusion

The United States of America is a country of beautiful views and natural sights. This country is famous for its National Parks. A national park is an area protected by the national government of a country in order to preserve a scenic landscape, species of plants and animals or structures and artifacts of historical importance. The United States of America was the first country where National Park appeared. It was Yellowstone National Park, which was established in March the first in 1872.

Today, the United States of America has fifty eight areas known as National Parks. The newest National Park is Great Sand Dunes, established in 2004. Twenty seven states have National Parks, as do American Samoa and the United States Virgin Island. Alaska and California each with eight, have largest number of National Parks, followed by Utah with five, and Colorado with four. All National Parks are operated by National Park system and service. The National Park system has rather complicated system and structure, different projects and programs. The National Park services budget is divided into two primary areas, discretionary and mandatory spending. Within each of these areas, there are numerous specific purposes to which Congress directs the Services activities.

Today, American National Park attract many tourists from all over the world. There is a top of the most popular National Parks among the tourists: Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Big Bend National Park, Grand Teton and Redwood National Parks. Each Park has its own special characteristics. There are the unique facts that stand out parks among other American Natural Sights.

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho: situated on the Yellowstone Caldera, the first National Park in the world has vast geothermal areas such as hot springs and geysers, the best-known being Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. The Yellow-hued Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River has numerous waterfalls, and four mountain ranges run through the park. There are almost sixty mammal species, including the grey wolf, grizzly bear, lynx, bison and elk.

Grand Canyon National Park(Arizona): The Grand Canyon, carved out by the Colorado River, is two hundred and seventy seven miles long, a mile deep, and up to fifteen miles wide. Millions of years of exposure have formed colorful layers of the Colorado Plateau in mesas and canyon walls. Ecosystems vary on the north and south rims and elevation within the Sonoran Desert.

National Park is a unique place for nature, plants, animals, and, of course, for all people. Our environment depends only on people's attitude to life. To save our planet is a main aim of people's life.

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30 National Geographic Book Service. - America's Wonderlands: The Scenic National Parks and Monuments of the United States. - Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1978.-215c.

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