The National Parks of the USA

Jul 042018

When Yellowstone National Park was established in the US state of Wyoming in the year 1872, the country paved way for safeguarding the rich ecosystems of the world, the native flora and fauna species, indigenous tribes and the virgin natural beauty that prevails at such preserved sites all across the world. Over the course of next century, all leading nations of the world formed policies with posterity, sustainability and conservation in mind whereas in the USA emerged The National Parks Service, now covering more than 84 million acres of land across 417 sites in all 50 states, including the 59 national parks of the country.

Collectively, the National Parks of the USA conserve a spectrum of diverse land systems – from swampy marshes to great canyons, from stunning glaciers to mighty mountains, from majestic deserts to gushing waterfalls and from forested interiors to dramatic volcanoes. Of the 432 species of mammals, more than 800 species of birds, more than 100,000 known species of insects, 311 known reptiles, 295 amphibians and 1154 known fish species in the U.S.; a majority finds representation inside these vast, green spaces that are tucked away in the quietest and the quaintest corners of the country. Despite the human footprint at these parks being massive (over 331 million times only the last year), the vast parks system manages to offer its inmates a safe home and its visitors plenty of opportunities for adventure and discovery.

12 Fascinating Facts about Top National Parks in the USA:

El Capitan, the largest exposed granite monolith in the world, lies in the Yosemite Valley
A giant sequoia tree in the Sequoia National Park has the thickest tree branch on Earth
The land for the Acadia National Park, lying east of the Mississippi River, was donated to the federal government
Channel Islands National Parks offers excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities as at least 33 ships drowned in the Santa Barbara Channel here
The Pinnacles National Park, popular for its spring wildflowers, is the latest entrant to the national parks system of the USA
With over five million visitors, the Grand Canyon is the second most visited national park with most visitors along its South Rim that remains open throughout the year as against its North Rim that opens from mid-May through mid-October each year
Cars are not allowed beyond the Mile 15 of the Denali National Park and Preserve to prevent pollution
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska’s smallest national park, takes its name from the fjords formed by glaciers moving down the mountains from the Harding Icefield
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to two active volcanoes, including Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano
Three different ecosystems prevail within the bounds of Olympic National Park, covering around one million acres
Some of the arches in the Arches National Park are as tall as 300-feet
The Glacier National Park, together with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, is part of a unique peace pact between the USA and Canada which focuses on solving border-related issues