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Jewels of the USA: National Parks
Posted: November 9th, 2007 @ 6:36pm
Every year, millions of people from around the world visit the greatest treasures the US has—its National Parks. March 1, 2007 is the 135th birthday of the very first national park, Yellowstone, which borders Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Yellowstone was set aside “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”, and is beloved for its amazing geothermal pools and geysers and renowned for its diverse wildlife, from bison to wolves.
The concept of a national park came from an artist named George Catlin, who painted landscapes and Native Americans in the early 1800s. Even in 1832, Catlin was concerned that the growth of the US would damage the wilderness. He suggested “A nation’s park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature’s beauty!”
The act of Congress in 1872 that created Yellowstone and laid the groundwork for other national parks has led to 58 national parks today. These parks range from the breathtaking Grand Canyon in Arizona to the overseas National Park of American Samoa.
Alaska and California have the most national parks, eight each. Utah has five. Most of the national parks are found in the western states where extreme climates have created incredible landscapes. Parks in the east include the beauty of Acadia in Maine, Congaree in South Carolina, and the famed Everglades in Florida.
For your next vacation, consider exploring a national park or two. In Utah, the national parks are close to each other. It’s possible to explore a different park each day, easily seeing all five within one week’s vacation. No matter which national park you decide to see, take along plenty of film to capture the majestic natural beauty preserved for your enjoyment.
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