UNITED STATES NATIONAL PARKS
Acadia National Park, Maine
By Sam Bigham
It reserves much of Mount Desert Island &
associated smaller islands including Isle au
Haut, parts of Baker Island & a portion of the
Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland. Originally
created as Lafayette National Park in 1919, the
first National Park East of the Mississippi, it
was renamed Acadia in 1929. The park
includes mountains, an ocean shoreline,
woodlands, & lakes. The park is home to some
40 different species of mammalian wildlife.
Among these are red & gray squirrels,
chipmunks, white-tailed deer, moose, beaver,
porcupine, muskrats, foxes, coyote, bobcats &
black bears.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
By Sam Bigham
It administers approximately 244 miles (393 km)
along the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo boundary of
Mexico & the United States. Big Bend National
Park has national significance as the largest
protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography
& ecology in the U.S., which includes more than
1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of
birds, 56 species of reptiles, & 75 species of
mammals. The park covers 801,163 acres. Few
areas exceed the park's value for the protection &
study of geologic & paleontologic resources.
Cretaceous & Tertiary fossil organisms exist in
variety & abundance. Archeologists have
discovered artifacts estimated to be 9,000 years
old.
Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska
By Sam Bigham
It is located in Interior Alaska & contains Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest mountain in
North America. The park & preserve together cover 9,492 mi². The word "Denali" means "the
high one" in the native Athabaskan language & refers to the mountain itself. The mountain was
named after President William McKinley in 1897. The park was established as Mount McKinley
National Park on February 26, 1917. However, only a portion of Mount McKinley was within the
original park boundary. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. A
separate Denali National Monument was proclaimed by President Carter on December 1, 1978.
Death Valley National Park,
California
By Sam Bigham
It is located east of the Sierra Nevada in
the arid Great Basin of the U.S. The park
covers 5,262 square miles. Death Valley
National Monument was declared in
1933, placing the area under federal
protection. In 1994, the monument was
redesignated a national park. It is the
hottest & driest of the national parks in
the United States. The second-lowest
point in the Western Hemisphere is in
Badwater Basin which is 282 feet below
sea level. The park is home to many
species of plants & animals that have
adapted to this harsh desert environment
including creosote bush, bighorn sheep,
coyoto & the Death Valley Pupfish, a
survivor of much wetter times.
Theodore Roosevelt National
Park, North Dakota
By Sam Bigham
It is comprised of 3 geographically separated
units of badlands in western North Dakota.
The park was named for President Theodore
Roosevelt in honor of his achievements in
conservation as president & for the
landscape's influence on his life. The park
covers 110 square miles (285 km²). Both
main units of the park have scenic drives,
foot & horse trails, wildlife viewing, &
campgrounds. The park is home to a wide
variety of Great Plains wildlife including
bison, feral horses, elk, bighorn sheep,
white-tailed deer, mule deer, prairie dogs &
at least 186 species of birds including golden
eagles, sharp-tailed grouse & wild turkeys.
Badlands National Park,
South Dakota
By Nani Espiritu
It is located in southwest South
Dakota, was designated on January
25, 1939 & preserves 244,000 acres
of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles,
& spires blended with the largest
protected mixed grass prairie in the
U.S. The Badlands Wildnerness
protects 64,144 acres of the park as
a designated wildnerness area & is
the site of the reintroduction of the
black-footed ferret, the most
endangered land mammal in North
America. The Stronghold Unit is comanaged with the Oglala Lakota
tribe & includes sites of 1890s Ghost
Dances & Red Shirt Table, the park's
highest point at 3,340 feet. It was
redesignated a national park on
November 10, 1978.
Glacier National Park, Montana
By Nani Espiritu
It is located in Montana, bordering the Canadian provinces of Alberta & British
Columbia. The park encompasses over 1,000,000 acres & includes parts of 2
mountain, over 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of plants &
hundreds of species of animals. This vast pristine ecosystem is the centerpiece of
what has been referred to as the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem", a region of
protected land encompassing 16,000 square miles. The mountains of Glacier
National Park began forming 170 million years ago when ancient rocks were
forced eastward up and over much younger rock strata.
Mammoth Cave National
Park, Kentucky
By Nani Espiritu
It is located in central Kentucky,
encompassing portions of Mammoth
Cave, the longest cave system known
in the world. The official name of the
system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge
Cave System for the ridge under which
the cave has formed. The park was
established July 1, 1941 & an
international Biosphere Reserve on
September 26, 1990. The park's
52,835 acres are centered around the
Green River. With over 390 miles of
passageways it is by far the world's
longest known cave system. Mammoth
Cave developed in thick Mississippianaged limestone strata capped by a
layer of sandstone, making the system
remarkably stable.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
By Nani Espiritu
It encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. It is long & narrow,
with the broad Shenandoah River & valley on the west side, & the rolling hills of
the Virginia Piedmont on the east. The most prominent feature of the Park is the
scenic Skyline Drive. Almost 40% of the land area 79,579 acres has been
designated as wilderness. The highest peak is Hawksbill Mountain at 4,051ft. The
Blue Ridge Mountains form a distinct highland rising to elevations above 4,000 ft.
Rocks exposed in the park are among the oldest in Virginia dating to over 1 billion
years in age. Bedrock in the park includes Grenville-age granitic basement rocks.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National
Park, Big Island, Hawaii
By Aaryan Booter
Was established in 1916. It displays the
results of hundreds of thousands of
years of volcanism, migration, &
evolution—processes that thrust a bare
land from the sea & clothed it with
complex & unique ecosystems & a
distinct Ancient Hawaiian culture.
Kilaueau, one of the world's most
active volcanoes, & Mauna Loa, the
most massive, offer scientists insights
on the birth of the Hawaiian Islands &
visitors' views of dramatic volcanic
landscapes. In recognition of its
outstanding natural values, Hawai’i
Volcanoes National Park has been
designated as an International
Biosphere Reserve in 1980 & a World
Heritage SIte in 1987.
Isle Royal National Park,
Michigan
By Aaryan Booter
The park is made of Isle Royale itself &
approximately 400 smaller islands. Isle
Royale National Park was established
on April 3, 1940, was designated as a
Wilderness Area in 1976, & was made
an International Biosphere Reserve in
1980. It is a relatively small national
park at 894 square miles, with only 209
square miles above water. The park
has 2 developed areas: Windigo, at the
southwest end of the island with a
campstore, showers, campsites, & a
boat dock; & Rock Harbor on the south
side of the northeast end with a
campstore, showers, restaurant, lodge,
campsites, & a boat dock.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
By Aaryan Booter
Signed into law by President Ulysses S.
Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone
was the first national park in the world, &
is known for its wildlife & its many
geothermal features, lakes & waterfalls,
especially Old Faithful Geyser. Hundreds
of species of mammals, birds, fish &
reptiles have been documented,
including several that are either
endangered or threatened. The vast
forests & grasslands also include unique
species of plants. Grizzly bears, wolves,
& free-ranging herds of bison & elk live
in the park. Yellowstone has numerous
recreational opportunities, including
hiking, camping, boating, fishing &
sightseeing., lodge, campsites, & a boat
dock.
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
By Aaryan Booter
A U.S. National Park located in northern Minnesota near the town of International
Falls.. It was established in 1975. The park's name commemorates the
voyageurs, French Canadaian fur traders who were the first European settlers to
frequently travel through the area. The park is notable for its outstanding water
resources & is popular with canoeists, kayakers, other boaters & fishermen. The
Kabetogama Peninsula, which lies entirely within the park & makes up most of its
land area, is accessible only by boat. To the east of the National Park lies the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Bryce Canyon National
Park, Utah
By Siena Meng
It is located in southwestern Utah & was
designated in 1928. The major feature
of the park is Bryce Canyon, which,
despite its name, is not actually a
canyon but a giant natural amphitheater
created by erosion along the eastern
side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce
is distinctive due to geological
structures called hoodoos, formed by
wind, water & ice erosion of the river &
lake bed sedimentary rocks. The red,
orange & white colors of the rocks
provide spectacular vistas. Bryce is at a
much higher elevation than nearby Zion
National Park. The rim at Bryce varies
from 8,000 to 9,000ft. The park covers
56 sq mi. It is remotely located near the
he town of Kanab, Utah..
Crater Lake National Park,
Oregon
By Siena Meng
Oregon’s only national park was
established May 1902. The Crater Lake
caldera rests in the remains of a
destroyed volcano Mt. Mazama. The
lake’s deepest point is 1,949 ft. This
impressive depth is due to the nearly
symmetrical 4,000-ft deep caldera
formed 7,700 years ago during violent
climactic eruptions & the collapse of the
volcano. It covers 286 square miles.
Crater Lake has no streams flowing into
or out of it, so water that enters the lake
is eventually lost from evaporation or
subsurface seepage. The lake's water
commonly has a striking blue hue & is
re-filled entirely from direct precipitation
in the form of snow & rain.
Joshua Tree National Park,
California
By Siena Meng
It was designated in 1994 & located in
southeastern California. It is named for
the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia)
forests native to the park. It covers a
land area of 789,745 acres. A large part
of the park is designated to wilderness
area - some 429,690 acres. The park
includes parts of 2 deserts, each an
ecosystem whose characteristics are
determined primarily by elevation: the
higher, drier & slightly cooler Mojave
Desert which is a special habitat for the
Joshua Tree & lower Colorado Desert
which encompasses the eastern part of
the park & features habitats of the
Creosote bush scrub, Ocotillo, desert
Saltbush & mixed scrub including Yucca
& Cholla cactus
Rocky Mountains National
Park, Colorado
By Siena Meng
It is located in the north-central region of
Colorado & features majestic mountain
views, wildlife, varied climates &
environments – from wooded forests to
mountain tundra – & easy access to
back-country trails & campsites. The
park includes the Continental Divide &
the headwaters of the Colorado River.
The park is surrounded by Roosevelt
National Forest on the north & east,
Routt National Forest on the northwest,
& Arapaho National Forest on the
southwest. Rocky Mountain National
Park encompasses approximately
265,770 acres of land in Colorado's
northern Front Range. Several small
glaciers & permanent snowfields are
found in the high mountain cirques.
Carlsbad Caverns National
Park
By Jackie Bonner
A United States National Park located in
the Guadalupe Mountains in
southeastern New Mexico. The primary
attraction of the park for most visitors is
the show cave. Visitors to the cave can
hike in on their own via the natural
entrance, or take the elevator (the exit
for everyone) directly to the
Underground Lunchroom some 750 feet
below. Carlsbad Caverns includes a
large cave chamber, the Big Room, a
natural limestone chamber which is
almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, &
350 feet high at the highest point. It is
the third largest chamber in North
America & the seventh largest in the
world. The largest in the world is the
Sarawak Chamber in Malaysia.
Yosemite National Park,
California
By Jackie Bonner
The park covers an area of
761,268 acres in east central California.
It is internationally recognized for its
spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls,
clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves &
biological diversity. Almost 95% of the
park is designated wilderness. The park
has an elevation range from 2,127 to
13,114 feet & contains 5 major
vegetation zones: chaparral/oak
woodland, lower montane, upper
montane, subalpine & alpine. Its
geology is characterized by granitic
rocks & remnants of older rock. About
10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada
was uplifted & then tilted to form its
gentle western slopes & the more
dramatic eastern slopes.
Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
By Jackie Bonner
It is located in northwestern Washington state & was was established on March 2,
1899 as the 5th national park in the U.S. The park contains 368 square miles
including all of Mt. Rainier, a 14,411-foot stratovolcano. The mountain rises
abruptly from the surrounding land with the highest point in the Cascade Range,
around it are valleys, waterfalls, subalpine wildflower meadows, old growth forest
& more than 26 glaciers. Mt. Rainier is circled by the Wonderland Trail & is
covered by several glaciers & snowfields totaling some 35 square miles. Carbon
Glacier is the largest glacier by volume in the continental U.S., while Emmons
Glacier is the largest glacier by area.
Everglades National Park,
Florida
By Jackie Bonner
Located in Florida, it is the largest
subtropical wilderness in the U.S & the
3rd-largest national park in 48 states. It
has been declared an International
Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage
Site & a Wetland of International
Importance. Unlike most U.S. national
parks, it was created to protect a fragile
ecosystem instead of safeguarding a
unique geographic feature. It protects
an interconnected network of marshland
& forest ecosystems. 36 species
designated as threatened or protected
live in the park, including the Florida
panther, American crocodile, & the West
Indian manatee. It is the most significant
breeding ground for tropical wading
birds in North America.
Petrified Forest National
Park, Arizona
By Jackie Bonner
It is located along Interstate 40 between
Holbrook & Navajo, Arizona. It features
one of the world's largest & most
colorful concentrations of petrified
wood. The park consists of two large
areas. The northern area encompasses
part of the multicolored badlands of the
Late Triassic Chinle Formation called
the Painted Desert. The southern area
includes colorful terrain & several
concentrations of petrified wood.
Several American Indian petroglyph
sites are also found in the southern
area. Near the south end of the park is
Agate House, a Native American
building of petrified wood, reconstructed
during the 1930s.
Biscayne National Park,
Florida
By Michael Chandler
Biscayne National Park, Florida
It is located in southern Florida due east of
Homestead. The park preserves
Biscayne Bay, one of the top scuba diving
areas in the U.S.. Ninety-five percent of
the park is water. In addition, the shore of
the bay is the location of an extensive
mangrove forest. The park covers 207 mi²
. Elliott Key, the park's largest island, is
considered the first of the true Florida
Keys being formed from fossilized coral
reef, i.e. Key Largo limestone. The islands
farther north in the park are transitional
islands of coral & sand. The major
attractions of the park are fishing, scuba
diving, snorkeling on the coral reef,
canoeing, kayaking, sailing, or camping on
Elliot Key or Boca Chita.
Grand Canyon National
Park, Arizona
By Michael Chandler
It is one of the our oldest national parks
& is located in Arizona. Within the park
lies the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the
Colorado River, considered to be one of
the major natural wonders of the world.
The park covers 1,902 miles. Much of
the Grand Canyon is extremely rugged
& remote, although many places are
accessible by pack trail & backcountry
roads. The area around the Grand
Canyon was designated national park
on February 26, 1919. Grand Canyon
itself, including its extensive system of
tributary canyons, is valued for the
combination of large size, depth, & the
exposed layering of colorful rocks dating
back to Precambrian times.
Grand Teton National Park,
Wyoming
By Michael Chandler
It is located in northwestern Wyoming &
named after the Grand Teton, which is
13,770 feet tall. It was established on
February 26, 1929 & covers 484 square
miles of land & water. There are nearly
200 miles of trails for hikers to enjoy. It
is part of the Rocky Mountains. In
addition to 13,770 ft high Grand Teton,
another 8 peaks are over 12,000 ft
above sea level. The glaciated range is
a textbook example of alpine
topography. Rubble piles left by ice age
alpine glaciers impounded a series of
interconnected lakes at the foot of the
range. Jackson Lake covers 25,540
acres & has a maximum depth of
438 feet. There are also over 100 alpine
& backcountry lakes.
Redwood National Forest,
California
By Michael Chandler
Established in 1968, it is located along
the coast of northern California & covers
133,000 acres. The park protects 45%
of all remaining Coastal Redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens) old-growth
forests. These trees are the tallest &
one of the most massive tree species
on Earth. In addition to the redwood
forests, the park preserves other
indigenous flora, fauna, grassland
prairie, cultural resources, portions of
rivers & other streams, & 37 miles of
pristine coastline. The ecosystem
preserves a number of threatened
animal species such as the Brown
Pelican, Tidewater Goby, Bald Eagle,
Chinook Salmon, Northern Spotted Owl
& Steller’s Sea Lion.
Kenai Fjords National Park,
Alaska
By Michael Chandler
It was established in 1980 & covers an
area of approximately 1,760 sq mi on
the Kenai Peninsula in southcentral
Alaska. The park contains the Hardng
Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in
the U.S. It is named for the numerous
fjords carved by glaciers. The field is the
source of at least 38 glaciers, the
largest of which is Bear Glacier. A
network of trails from the Nature Center
provide access to the glacier. Cruise
tours originating from Seward also
provide access to the park via
Resurrection Bay. Tours provide views
of land & marine wildlife, particularly
stellar sea lions, puffins, Dall’s
porpoises, American black bear,
mountain goats, & humpback & orca
whales.