national park

listen to the pronunciation of national park
İngilizce - Türkçe
milli park

Milli parklarda avlanmaya izin verilmez. - Hunting is not allowed in national parks.

Avcılık milli parklarda yasaklanmıştır. - Hunting is banned in national parks.

ulusal park

Bu ulusal park güzel manzarayla dolu. - This national park is full of beautiful scenery.

Yosemite Ulusal Parkı dünyadaki en güzel yerlerden biridir. - The Yosemite national park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

milli parkı
National Park Service; nonprior service; Nuclear Planning System
(Askeri) Milli Parklar Teşkilatı; daha önceden hizmeti yok; Nükleer Planlama Sistemi
gates of the arctic national park
Arktik milli parkın kapıları
shenandoah national park
Shenandoah milli park
İngilizce - İngilizce
An area of land reserved by the national government for recreational use
An area of protected land including it's biodiversity
An area of unusual scenic or historic interest owned by the federal government and administered by the National Park Service, U S Department of the Interior, to conserve the scenery, the flora and fauna, and any natural and historical objects within its boundaries for public enjoyment in perpetuity
a tract of land declared by the national government to be public property
An area ownned by the State and dedicated statue for the conservation of scenery and the natural and historic objects of national significance and to the conservation of wild animals and plants by such means as leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of present and future generation
These are generally large natural places under the management of the National Park Service (see below) having a wide variety of attributes, at times including significant historic assets Hunting, mining and consumptive activities are not authorized
is a representative natural area of Canadian significance, which is protected for all time as part of a country-wide system of national parks, and as a place where we encourage public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of this national heritage
– refers to a forest reservation essentially of primitive or wilderness character which has been withdrawn from settlement or occupancy and set aside as such exclusively to preserve the scenery, the natural and historic objects and the wild animals or plants therein, and to provide enjoyment of these features in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future generations (Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau)
A national park is a large area of land which is protected by the government because of its natural beauty, plants, or animals, and which the public can usually visit. the Masai Mara game reserve and Amboseli national park. A tract of land declared public property by a national government with a view to its preservation and development for purposes of recreation and culture. land which is protected by a government because of its natural beauty or historical or scientific interest, and which people can visit. Area set aside by a national government for the preservation of its natural environment. Most national parks are kept in their natural state. Those in the U.S. and Canada emphasize land and wildlife preservation, those in Britain focus mainly on the land, and those in African nations focus primarily on animals. The world's first national park, Yellowstone, was established in the U.S. by Pres. Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. Canada's first national park, Banff, was established in 1885. Japan and Mexico established their first national parks in the 1930s; Britain's national parks date to 1949. The U.S. National Park Service, established in 1916, now also manages national monuments, preserves, recreation areas, and seashores, as well as lakeshores, historic sites, parkways, scenic trails, and battlefields. See also national forest
An area set aside by a country for preservation and recreation due to its outstanding natural beauty
Publicly-owned land managed by CALM for the purposes of conservation and recreation
nature reserve, protected area designated for the preservation of wildlife
national park service
an agency of the Interior Department responsible for the National Parks
national parks
plural form of national park
Acadia National Park
Preserve on the coast of Maine, U.S. It has an area of 65 sq mi (168 sq km). Originally established as Sieur de Monts National Monument (1916), it became the first national park in the eastern U.S. as Lafayette National Park (1919) and was renamed Acadia in 1929. It consists mainly of a forested area on Mount Desert Island, dominated by Cadillac Mountain
Amazonia National Park
Park, north-central Brazil, about halfway between the cities of Manaus and Belém, along the Tapajós River. Established in 1974, it has gradually expanded to cover about 3,900 sq mi (10,100 sq km) and contains an immense diversity of flora and fauna
Arches National Park
Preserve, eastern Utah, U.S. Located on the Colorado River north of Moab, the preserve was established as a national monument in 1929 and as a national park in 1971. Its area is 115 sq mi (298 sq km). The park's red limestone has been eroded into unusual shapes, including Courthouse Towers, Fiery Furnace, and Devils Garden, the site of Landscape Arch, at 291 ft (89 m) the longest natural rock bridge in the world
Arusha National Park
Preserve, northern Tanzania. Established in 1960, the park contains a rich variety of flora and fauna. It is the site of Mount Meru (14,954 ft [4,558 m]) and Ngurdoto Crater, an extinct volcano. Nearby are Mount Kilimanjaro, Olduvai Gorge, and Ngorongoro Crater, whose surrounding area teems with wildlife
Banff National Park
{i} national park in the Rocky Mountains in southwest Alberta (Canada)
Banff National Park
Park, southwestern Alberta, Canada. Established in 1885 as Canada's first national park, it lies on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and includes mineral springs, ice fields, and glacial lakes, including Lake Louise. It has been greatly expanded to its present area of 2,564 sq mi (6,641 sq km). Banff is famed for its spectacular beauty, and visitors are so numerous that it is now more a recreation than a conservation area
Big Bend National Park
Preserve, southwestern Texas, U.S. It lies 250 mi (400 km) southeast of El Paso and occupies 1,252 sq mi (3,243 sq km). It was established in 1944 and named for the wide bend in the Rio Grande that skirts its southern edge. The park has magnificent mountain and desert scenery; it is home to more than 1,000 species of plants, and its wildlife includes coyotes, pumas, and roadrunners
Biscayne National Park
Preserve, southeastern Florida, U.S. Located 20 mi (32 km) south of Miami, with an area of 172,925 acres (70,035 hectares), it consists mostly of coral reef and water containing some 33 keys that form a north-to-south chain separating Biscayne Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It is noted for a wide variety of sea life. Authorized as Biscayne National Monument in 1968, it became a national park in 1980
Bryce Canyon National Park
Park, southern Utah, U.S. It is not a true canyon but rather a series of natural amphitheatres below which stands an array of limestone and sandstone columns. Its geology is related to that of Grand Canyon and Zion national parks, since the stone of all three was formed while the entire region was under a shallow sea. The park, established in 1928, covers 35,835 acres (14,513 hectares)
Canyonlands National Park
Park, southeastern Utah, U.S. The park, established in 1964, occupies a wilderness of water-eroded sandstone spires, canyons, and mesas extending over 527 sq mi (1,366 sq km). Some of its rock walls display Indian petroglyphs. The Needles section in its southern part contains the Angel and Druid arches, gigantic balanced rock formations
Capitol Reef National Park
Park, south-central Utah, U.S. Occupying 378 sq mi (979 sq km), it comprises great buttressed cliffs of coloured Navajo sandstone extending for 100 mi (160 km) along the western edge of the Waterpocket Fold. Established as a national monument in 1937, it became a national park in 1971. It is so named because its rock towers reminded geologists of coral reefs, while its dome-shaped formations suggest capitol architecture. The cliff walls are covered with pre-Columbian petroglyphs
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Preserve, southeastern New Mexico, U.S. Established as a national monument in 1923 and as a national park in 1930, it covers 73 sq mi (189 sq km). Beneath the surface winds a maze of underground chambers; one of the largest caverns ever discovered, the Big Room, is about 2,000 ft (600 m) long and 1,100 ft (330 m) wide, and its ceiling arches 255 ft (78 m) above the floor. In the summer a colony of bats inhabits a part of the caverns known as Bat Cave
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
{i} national park containing a series of underground limestone caverns and a fossil reef from the Permian period (located in New Mexico, USA)
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
National preserve, northwestern New Mexico, U.S. Established as a national monument in 1907, it was redesignated and renamed in 1980. Occupying 53 sq mi (137 sq km), it contains 13 major pre-Columbian ruins and more than 300 smaller archaeological sites representing Pueblo cultures. Pueblo Bonito, built in the 10th century, is the largest Pueblo excavated site; it contained some 800 rooms
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Park, eastern U.S. It consists of the former Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, a waterway running along the Potomac River between Washington, D.C., and Cumberland, Md. The canal, which extends 185 mi (297 km), was built beginning in the 1820s. Competition from the railroads later caused its economic decline. The canal was purchased in 1938 by the U.S. government; it was restored and established as a historical park in 1971
Chobe National Park
National preserve, northern Botswana. The preserve, which acquired national park status in 1968, borders Namibia and touches Zimbabwe and Zambia, covering 4,500 sq mi (11,700 sq km). It is noted for its wildlife, particularly its large elephant population
Colonial National Historical Park
Historical reservation, southeastern Virginia, U.S. Covering some 15 sq mi (38 sq km) and centred on a peninsula between the York and James rivers, it was first established as a national monument in 1930 and includes colonial and Revolutionary sites. It embraces Cape Henry, Jamestown, and Yorktown and includes the Colonial Parkway, a 23-mi (37-km) scenic route linking Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
National historical park, Tennessee, U.S. Created in 1940 to preserve the Cumberland Gap, a natural pass at 1,640 ft (500 m) through the Cumberland Plateau, it includes the Wilderness Road, blazed by Daniel Boone, which became the main artery that opened the Northwest Territory. The park covers 32 sq mi (83 sq km)
Denali National Park
Preserve, southern central Alaska, U.S. Established in 1980, it comprises the former Mount McKinley National Park (1917) and Denali National Monument (1978). Highlights of the park include Mount McKinley, the large glaciers of the Alaska Range, and abundant wildlife. The park's total area is 5,000,000 acres (2,025,000 hectares)
Dry Tortugas National Park
National park located on the Dry Tortugas islands, southwestern Florida, U.S. The islands are situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, west of Key West, Fla. Established in 1935 as Fort Jefferson National Park, it occupies an area of about 64,700 acres (26,200 hectares). Its current name was adopted in 1992. The park's principal features are a marine exhibit and the remains of fortifications built in 1846
Etosha National Park
National reserve, northern Namibia. Covering some 8,598 sq mi (22,269 sq km), it centres on the Etosha Pan, a vast expanse of salt with lone salt springs, used by animals as salt licks. It has one of the largest populations of big-game species in the world, including lions, elephants, rhinoceros, elands, zebras, and springbok
Everglades National Park
national park in southern Florida (USA) that is mainly composed of marshes and wetlands
Fiordland National Park
Park, southern South Island, New Zealand. Established in 1952, it is one of the largest national parks in the world, with an area of 4,834 sq mi (12,519 sq km). It is renowned for the grandeur of its fjords, mountains, forests, waterfalls, and lakes. The park is bordered by mountains on the east and by the Tasman Sea on all other sides. It is the site of Sutherland Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the world, which drops 1,904 ft (580 m) in three cascades
Fray Jorge National Park
National park, north-central Chile. Established in 1941 and covering 39 sq mi (100 sq km), it preserves a pocket of subtropical forest in a semiarid region. Botanists conjecture that this unusual situation exists because the relatively warm discharge of a nearby river into the cold Pacific Ocean creates an almost continuous fog, providing moisture for the forest
Gates of the Arctic National Park
National preserve, northern Alaska, U.S. Its area of 11,756 sq mi (30,448 sq km) is entirely north of the Arctic Circle. Proclaimed a national monument in 1978, the area underwent boundary changes and was renamed in 1980. It includes a portion of the Central Brooks Range. The southern slopes are forested, contrasting with the barren northern reaches at the edge of Alaska's North Slope
Gemsbok National Park
Nature preserve, southwestern Botswana. It was joined with the Republic of South Africa's Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in 2000 to form Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It was established as a game reserve in 1932 to protect migratory animal populations that cross the border between the two countries. Its wildlife includes large herds of gemsbok, gnu (wildebeest), and springbok
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
National park, southeastern Alaska, U.S. Located on the Gulf of Alaska, it was proclaimed a national monument in 1925, renamed in 1980, and designated a World Heritage site in 1992. It covers 5,040 sq mi (13,053 sq km). It includes Glacier Bay, the northwestern slope of Mount Fairweather, and the U.S. portion of the Alsek River. Among its great tidewater glaciers is Muir Glacier, which rises 265 ft (81 m) above the water and is nearly 2 mi (3 km) wide. The park also includes a dramatic range of plant species and such wildlife as brown and black bears, mountain goats, whales, seals, and eagles
Glacier National Park
National preserve, northwestern Montana, U.S. Set in the state's Rocky Mountains wilderness, it adjoins the Canadian border and Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park. The two parks together compose the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, dedicated in 1932. Glacier National Park was established in 1910 and encompasses 1,013,572 acres (410,178 hectares). The park, with its active glaciers, straddles the Continental Divide. National preserve, British Columbia, Canada. Lying in the heart of the Selkirk Mountains, within the northern bend of the Columbia River, it was established in 1886; it occupies an area of 521 sq mi (1,349 sq km). Snowcapped peaks flanked by ice fields and glaciers form an alpine panorama. Outstanding features are the Illecillewaet Glacier and the Nakimu Caves in the Cougar Valley
Gran Paradiso National Park
Park, northwestern Italy. Established in 1836 as a hunting zone, in 1856 it became the Royal Hunting Reserve of the Gran Paradiso, and in 1947 it received national park status. It covers an area of 153,240 acres (62,000 hectares) and extends along the upper Valle d'Aosta region; it contains the highest peak in the Graian Alps, Gran Paradiso, at 13,323 ft (4,061 m). The terrain is typically Alpine, with numerous glaciers and coniferous tree-lined slopes
Grand Teton National Park
National preserve, northwestern Wyoming, U.S. In 1950 most of Jackson Hole National Monument (a fertile valley) was incorporated into the park, which was established in 1929 and now covers 484 sq mi (1,254 sq km). The snow-covered peaks of its Teton Range are 7,000 ft (2,100 m) above the nearby Snake River valley
Great Basin National Park
National preserve, eastern Nevada, U.S. Made a national park in 1986, the area was previously part of the Humboldt National Forest. It has an area of 121 sq mi (313 sq km) and consists of the southern part of the Snake Mountains, a chain that rises abruptly from the desert floor to reach a height of 13,063 ft (3,982 m) at Wheeler Peak. A park attraction is the Lehman Caves, a group of limestone caverns
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National preserve, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, U.S. It is 20 mi (32 km) wide and extends southwest for 54 mi (87 km) from the Pigeon River to the Little Tennessee River. Established in 1934 to preserve the U.S.'s last remaining sizable area of southern primeval hardwood forest, it covers 520,269 acres (210,553 hectares) and contains some of the highest peaks in the Appalachian Mountains. Summits are crowned with dense forest, while lower elevations have mountain laurel, rhododendron, and azaleas. The region's first settlers established themselves in the valleys, and some of their homes are preserved in the park. It was designated a World Heritage site in 1983
Gros Morne National Park
National park, Newfoundland, Canada. Covering 458,000 acres (185,500 hectares) and established as a national park in 1973, it includes mountains of the Long Range and takes its name from Gros Morne Peak, which rises to 2,644 ft (806 m). The park also includes beaches, forests, shifting dunes, and a tidal inlet
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
National park, western Texas, U.S. Established in 1972, it occupies an area of 86,416 acres (34,998 hectares) east of El Paso. It is centred on two peaks: Guadalupe Peak, which reaches 8,751 ft (2,667 m), and El Capitan, which rises to 8,078 ft (2,462 m). The park is an area of great geologic interest, with a major Permian limestone fossil reef
Haleakala National Park
National park, eastern Maui, Hawaii, U.S. Established in 1960, it occupies an area of 28,655 acres (11,597 hectares). Its central feature is Haleakala Crater, the world's largest dormant volcanic crater, more than 2,500 ft (762 m) deep and about 20 mi (32 km) in circumference. The crater floor, covering more than 19 sq mi (49 sq km), has areas of forest, desert, and meadow. It is the site of Science City, a research-observatory complex operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Universities of Hawaii and Michigan
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National preserve, West Virginia, U.S., in the Blue Ridge at the point where West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland converge. Authorized as a national monument in 1944 and a historical park in 1963, it covers 1,909 acres (772 hectares). It is located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers and consists primarily of the town of Harpers Ferry, W.Va. (pop., 2000: 307). It is the site of the 1859 raid by abolitionist John Brown, an incident that precipitated the American Civil War, and of several battles during the war
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
National preserve, southeastern shore of Hawaii island, U.S. Established in 1916, it occupies an area of 358 sq mi (927 sq km) and includes the active volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea, 25 mi (40 km) apart. Other highlights are Kau Desert, an area of lava formations near Kilauea, and a tree-fern forest that receives nearly 100 in. (2,500 mm) of annual rainfall
Hot Springs National Park
National park, central Arkansas, U.S. Established in 1921, it occupies an area of 9 square mi (23 sq km). It is centred on 47 thermal springs, from which more than 850,000 gallons (3,200,000 litres) of water, with an average temperature of 143 °F (62 °C), flow daily. The springs, long used by the Indians and probably visited by Hernando de Soto in 1541, drew Spanish and French visitors in search of health benefits in the 1700s. The city of Hot Springs (pop., 2000: 35,750), a health and tourist resort and boyhood home of U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton, was settled in 1807 and incorporated in 1876
Hwange National Park
formerly Wankie National Park National preserve, northwestern Zimbabwe. Located on the Botswana frontier, it was established in 1928 as a game reserve and in 1930 as a national park. The land, with an area of 5,657 sq mi (14,651 sq km), is largely flat, with hardwood forests of mukwa and teak. It is one of Africa's largest elephant sanctuaries; its abundant wildlife can be observed from platforms overlooking the water holes
Isle Royale National Park
Island national park located in northwestern Lake Superior, northwestern Michigan, U.S. Established in 1931, it has an area of 571,790 acres (231,575 hectares) and includes Isle Royale, the largest island in Lake Superior, measuring 45 mi (72 km) long and 9 mi (14 km) across. Its forested wilderness, with streams and inland lakes, hosts more than 200 species of birds. Travel is possible only on foot or by canoe, and ferry service is available from mainland Michigan and Minnesota
Jasper National Park
National park, western Alberta, Can. Located on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, it was established in 1907. It occupies 4,200 sq mi (10,878 sq km), including the Athabasca River valley and the surrounding mountains. It encompasses part of the great Columbia Icefield, the meltwaters of which feed rivers that flow to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. The park's wildlife includes bear, elk, moose, caribou, and cougar
Joshua Tree National Park
National park, southeastern California, U.S. Situated on the border between the Mojave and Colorado deserts, it has an area of 1,241 sq mi (3,214 sq km). It was designated a national monument in 1936 and a national park in 1994. It is noted for its variety of desert plant life, including the Joshua tree, creosote bush, and Mojave yucca. Its fauna include coyotes, bobcats, and tarantulas
Kabalega National Park
National park, northwestern Uganda. Established in 1952, it occupies 1,483 sq mi (3,840 sq km) of rolling grassland. Its central feature is the Kabalega Falls on the lower Victoria Nile River. The falls are about 20 ft (6 m) wide and drop 130 ft (40 m) in the first of three cascades
Kafue National Park
National park, south-central Zambia. Located west of Lusaka, it was established in 1950. It occupies an area of 8,650 sq mi (22,400 sq km) and consists of a vast plateau, situated along the middle reaches of the Kafue River. The park is noted for its lush vegetation and abundant wildlife, including hippopotamuses, zebras, elephants, black rhinoceroses, and lions. Safaris are conducted on foot
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
National park in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa. Established in 1931, it lies between Namibia and Botswana and adjoins the Gemsbok National Park of Botswana. It occupies an area of 3,703 sq mi (9,591 sq km). Its wildlife includes gnu, lions, jackals, cheetahs, and ostriches. In 2000 Kalahari Gemsbok National Park was joined with Botswana's Gemsbok National Park to form Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Katmai National Park and Preserve
National park, southwestern Alaska, U.S., at the head of the Alaska Peninsula. Occupying an area of 4,090,000 acres (1,655,000 hectares), it was proclaimed a national monument in 1918 after the eruption of Novarupta in 1912. The eruption converted the valley into a wasteland known as the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, and the volcanic crater later became a lake. The park abounds in wildlife, including large numbers of brown and grizzly bears
Kenai Fjords National Park
National park, southern Alaska, U.S. Located on the southern coast of the Kenai Peninsula and established as a national monument in 1978, it became a national park in 1980. Its area of 670,000 acres (271,100 hectares) includes the Harding Icefield and its outflowing glaciers as well as coastal fjords. The park's wildlife includes sea otters, seals, and seabirds
Kings Canyon National Park
National park, Sierra Nevadas, south-central California, U.S. Occupying an area of 722 sq mi (1,870 sq km), it is administered along with the adjacent Sequoia National Park. Established in 1940, it contains giant sequoia trees. Its most spectacular feature is Kings Canyon on the Kings River, which was carved by glacial action
Kluane National Park
National park, southwestern Yukon, Canada. Located on the Alaskan border and established in 1972, it encompasses some 5,440,000 acres (2,201,500 hectares). Its focal point is Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada. Kluane also has a large glacier system and abundant wildlife
Kobuk Valley National Park
National park, northwestern Alaska, U.S. Located north of the Arctic Circle, it was made a national monument in 1978 and a national park in 1980. Occupying an area of 1,750,421 acres (708,370 hectares), it preserves the Kobuk River valley, including the Kobuk and Salmon rivers, forest lands, and the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. Archaeological sites reveal more than 10,000 years of human habitation. It protects caribou migration routes; other wildlife include grizzly and black bears, foxes, moose, and wolves
Kootenay National Park
National park, southeastern British Columbia, Canada. Centred around the Kootenay River, the park occupies the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, adjacent to Banff and Yoho national parks. Established as a national park in 1920, it covers 543 sq mi (1,406 sq km). From prehistoric times, the area was a major north-south travel route. Pictographs indicate that humans settled near the hot springs 11,000-12,000 years ago. The park's scenery is characterized by snowcapped peaks, glaciers, cascades, canyons, and verdant valleys. Wildlife includes wapiti (elk), moose, deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats
Kruger National Park
large nature preserve in the northeastern section of South Africa (near the border of Mozambique)
Kruger National Park
National park, South Africa. Located in the northeastern part of the country on the Mozambique border, it was created as a game sanctuary in 1898 and in 1926 became a national park named for Paul Kruger. It covers an area of 7,523 sq mi (19,485 sq km) and contains six rivers. It has a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, and cheetahs. In December 2002 it became part of Africa's largest game park when Kruger National Park was joined with Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe to form the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
National park, southern Alaska, U.S. Located on the western shore of Cook Inlet, it was proclaimed a national monument in 1978 and a national park in 1980. Its total area is 3,653,000 acres (1,478,300 hectares). Lake Clark, more than 40 mi (65 km) long, is the largest of its glacial lakes; it feeds rivers that provide the most important spawning ground for red salmon in North America. The park includes glaciers, waterfalls, and active volcanoes
Los Glaciares National Park
National park, southwestern Argentina. Located in the Andes Mountains at the Chilean border, it was established in 1937 and has an area of 625 sq mi (1,618 sq km). It has two distinct regions: forests and grassy plains in the east and peaks, lakes, and glaciers in the west. Its highest point is Mount Fitzroy (11,073 ft [3,375 m])
Mammoth Cave National Park
National park, southwest-central Kentucky, U.S. The park, authorized in 1926 and established in 1941, occupies a surface area of 82 sq mi (212 sq km) that covers a system of limestone caverns. In 1972 a passage was discovered linking the Mammoth Cave and the Flint Ridge Cave System; the explored underground passages have a combined length of some 329 mi (530 km). The caves are inhabited by various animals that have undergone evolutionary adaptation to the dark, including cave crickets, blindfish, and blind crayfish. Mummified Indian bodies, possibly of pre-Columbian origin, have been found in the caves
Mesa Verde National Park
National park, southwestern Colorado, U.S. It was established in 1906 to preserve prehistoric Indian cliff dwellings. Occupying a high tableland area of 52,085 acres (21,078 hectares), it contains hundreds of pueblo ruins up to 13 centuries old. The most striking are multistoried apartments built under overhanging cliffs. Cliff Palace, the largest, was excavated in 1909 and contains hundreds of rooms, including kivas, the circular ceremonial chambers of the Pueblo Indians
Morristown National Historical Park
Historical park, Morristown, N.J., U.S. In the American Revolution the Continental army under George Washington had its main winter campsite there in 1776-77 and 1779-80. Established in 1933, the park covers 1,684 acres (682 hectares). It includes the house that served as Washington's headquarters and other artifacts of the Revolution
Mount Aspiring National Park
Park, southwestern South Island, New Zealand. Established in 1964, it has an area of 1,223 sq mi (3,167 sq km), including much of the Southern Alps and Mount Aspiring (9,932 ft [3,027 m]). Its southern boundary is Fiordland National Park. The park's landscape is varied, including glaciers, mountains, gorges, waterfalls, and passes, and it is the source of headwaters of seven major rivers. Birds common in the park include the tui, bellbird, fantail, and gray warbler
Mount Cook National Park
Park, western central South Island, New Zealand. Established in 1953, it has an area of 270 sq mi (700 sq km) and shares a western boundary with Westland National Park. It extends along the crest of the Southern Alps. There are some 27 peaks higher than 10,000 ft (3,000 m) in the park, including Mount Cook, the highest point in New Zealand at 12,349 ft (3,764 m). More than one-third of the park is covered by permanent snow and glacial ice
Nahanni National Park
National park, southwestern Northwest Territories, Canada. Established in 1972, it occupies an area of 1,177,700 acres (476,968 hectares). Its central feature is the South Nahanni River, a tributary of the Liard River; it flows southeast from the Mackenzie Mountains and is 350 mi (563 km) long. The park also contains three large canyons and a variety of birds, wildlife, and flowers
Nahuel Huapí National Park
National park, southwestern Argentina. Originating as a reserve in 1903 with a private donation of 15 sq mi (39 sq km), it became Argentina's first national park in 1934. The park and adjacent nature reserve include dense forests, rivers, glaciers, and snow-clad peaks, including El Tronador ("the Thunderer"), Mount Catedral, and Lake Nahuel Huapí
Nairobi National Park
National park, Kenya. Located about 15 mi (25 km) south of Nairobi, it was established in 1946. It has an area of 45 sq mi (117 sq km). It is noted for wildlife, including lion, gazelle, black rhinoceros, giraffe, antelope, zebra, numerous reptiles, and hundreds of bird species
North Cascades National Park
National park, northwestern Washington, U.S. Established in 1968 to preserve mountain snowfields, glaciers, alpine meadows, and lakes in the northern part of the Cascade Range, it covers an area of 504,781 acres (204,278 hectares). The Ross Lake National Recreation Area separates the park into two sections, the northern unit extending to the Canadian border and the southern unit adjoining the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Olympic National Park
National park, northwestern Washington, U.S. Established in 1938 to preserve the Olympic Mountains and their forests and wildlife, it covers 1,442 sq mi (3,735 sq km); it includes a strip of Pacific Northwest shoreline geographically separated from the rest of the park. There are more than 60 glaciers in the park. The western part includes rainforests; the eastern slopes feature lakes; and the ocean shore section contains scenic beaches and three Indian reservations
Petrified Forest National Park
national park in Arizona (USA) where the trunks of trees have turned to stone as a result of heavily mineral-laden water
Petrified Forest National Park
National park, eastern Arizona, U.S. Established as a national monument in 1906 and as a national park in 1962, it has an area of 146 sq mi (378 sq km). It features extensive exhibits of petrified wood in several "forest" areas, fossilized leaves, plants, and broken logs, and the Painted Desert. Other features include petroglyphs and ancient Pueblo Indian ruins
Prince Albert National Park
Park, central Saskatchewan, Canada. Its main entrance is northwest of the city of Prince Albert. Established in 1927, it has an area of 1,496 sq mi (3,875 sq km) and is mostly woodland and lakes, interlaced with streams and nature trails. It is a sanctuary for birds, moose, elk, caribou, and bears
Pukaskwa National Park
National park, central Ontario, Canada. Established in 1971, it is Ontario's largest national park, covering 725 sq mi (1,878 sq km). It includes areas of rugged Canadian Shield wilderness as well as 50 mi (80 km) of the shoreline of northeastern Lake Superior, with rocky islets and coves and spectacular cliffs. Excavations of prehistoric Indian remains have been made. Wildlife includes timber wolf, black bear, mink, lynx, white-tailed deer, moose, and woodland caribou. The park has vast forests of white and black spruce, jack pine, poplar, and birch
Queen Elizabeth National Park
or Ruwenzori National Park National park, southwestern Uganda. Established in 1952, it has an area of 764 sq mi (1,978 sq km) and lies east of Lake Edward. One of the largest parks in Uganda, it has areas of rainforest and savanna grassland. It is within the western branch of the Great Rift Valley and is dotted with Pleistocene volcanic craters. Wildlife includes chimpanzees, leopards, lions, and elephants
Redwood National Park
National park, northwestern corner of California, U.S. It was established in 1968, expanded in 1978, and designated a World Heritage site in 1980. It preserves virgin groves of ancient redwood trees, including the world's tallest, 367.8 ft (112.1 m) high. It also includes 40 mi (65 km) of scenic Pacific coastline. It covers an area of 172 sq mi (445 sq km), including land in three state parks
Rocky Mountain National Park
National park, north-central Colorado, U.S. Established in 1915 and enclosing part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, the park has an area of 262,191 acres (106,105 hectares). It contains many peaks exceeding 10,000 ft (3,000 m), including Longs Peak (14,255 ft [4,345 m]), as well as broad valleys and alpine lakes. The tundra in the park's high country is an island of Arctic vegetation surrounded by plants of lower latitudes. Animal life includes bighorn sheep, deer, mountain lions, and a variety of birds
Rondane National Park
Park, south-central Norway. Established as a national park in 1970, it covers an area of 221 sq mi (572 sq km) of mountainous terrain. The highest peak is Rondeslottet at 7,146 ft (2,178 m). Vegetation is sparse, and the few trees are mostly dwarf birch and conifers
San Juan Island National Historical Park
Historical park, San Juan Islands, northwestern Washington, U.S. Established in 1966, it covers 1,752 ac (710 ha). The San Juan Islands archipelago consists of 172 islands and makes up a county of Washington state
Sequoia National Park
a US national park in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, famous for its extremely large Sequoia trees, especially the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest living thing in the world. National park, Sierra Nevada range, California, U.S. The park, with an area of 629 sq mi (1,629 sq km), was set aside in 1890 to protect groves of big trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) that are among the world's largest and oldest living things. The largest tree in the park is thought to be 3,000-4,000 years old. Kings Canyon National Park adjoins Sequoia park to the north; Mount Whitney is on the eastern boundary
Serengeti National Park
Wildlife refuge, north-central Tanzania. Established in 1951, the park covers 5,700 sq mi (14,763 sq km). An international tourist attraction, it is the only place in Africa where vast land-animal migrations still take place. More than 35 species of plains animals, 200 species of birds, and lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, giraffes, and baboons inhabit the park. Poaching is a major problem
Shenandoah National Park
National park, Blue Ridge Mountains, northern Virginia, U.S. Formed in 1935, the park consists of 193,537 ac (78,322 ha) and is noted for its scenery, which affords some of the widest views in the eastern states. It is heavily forested with hardwoods and conifers; wildlife includes deer, foxes, and numerous birds
Sitka National Historical Park
Park, southeastern Alaska, U.S. Located on Baranof Island in the Gulf of Alaska, it was established in 1910 as a national monument; a national park since 1972, it covers 107 ac (43 ha). It contains the ruins of the Indian fortress in which the Tlingit Indians made their last stand against Russian settlers in 1804. It also has a collection of old Haida Indian totem poles and the oldest intact Russian-American building in the U.S
Snowdonia National Park
Park, northern Wales. Established in 1951, it has an area of 838 sq mi (2,171 sq km). It is best known for its mountains, composed largely of volcanic rock and cut by valleys that show the influence of Ice Age glaciers. Mount Snowdon, 3,560 ft (1,085 m) high, is the highest peak in England and Wales
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Preserve, west-central North Dakota, U.S. Established in 1947, it commemorates Pres. Theodore Roosevelt's interest in the American West. The 110-sq-mi (285-sq-km) park contains several sites along the Little Missouri River, including a petrified forest, Wind Canyon, eroded badlands, and Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch cabin
Tsavo National Park
Park, southeastern Kenya, east of Mount Kilimanjaro. Established in 1948, it covers 8,036 sq mi (20,812 sq km) and is Kenya's largest national park. It comprises semiarid plains covered by dormant vegetation (which blooms after a light rain) and acacia and baobab trees. Wildlife includes elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, hartebeests, and hundreds of bird species. Poaching and brush fires are constant problems
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Preserve, southeastern Pennsylvania, U.S. The 3,468-ac (1,404-ha) park commemorates the site where Gen. George Washington camped with his Continental Army in the winter of 1777-78 during the American Revolution. The park was established in 1976
Virgin Islands National Park
Conservation area, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Covering 14,696 acres (5,947 hectares), it has steep mountains, white beaches, and coral reefs. Though most of the tree cover was removed for sugarcane cultivation in the 17th-18th century, the land has reverted to forest. Some 100 species of birds and the only native land mammal, the bat, can be found there. It has remains of Arawak Indian villages
Virunga National Park
formerly Albert National Park Game preserve and gorilla sanctuary, northeastern Congo (Kinshasa). Established in 1925, it has an area of 3,012 sq mi (7,800 sq km). Its southern tip touches the northern shore of Lake Kivu, and much of its central region is occupied by Lake Edward. The Virunga Mountains lie between the two lakes
Voyageurs National Park
National park, northern Minnesota, U.S. Located along the Canadian border, the park was established in 1975 and was named for the mostly French-Canadian fur-trading frontiersmen (voyageurs) of the 18th-19th centuries. It occupies an area of 217,892 ac (88,178 ha) and consists of a network of streams and lakes, the largest of which is Rainy Lake
Waterton Lakes National Park
National park, western Canada. Located in southern Alberta, it was created in 1895. A mountain recreational area, it covers 129,920 acres (52,618 hectares). It adjoins the U.S. border and Glacier National Park in the U.S.; the two parks together compose the Waterton-Glacier National Peace Park, dedicated in 1932
Wind Cave National Park
National park, southwestern South Dakota, U.S. Established in 1903 to preserve limestone caverns and unspoiled prairie grassland in the Black Hills, it covers an area of 28,292 ac (11,449 ha). Its caves contain 83 mi (134 km) of explored passages and have beautiful rock formations called boxwork, formed by calcite deposition in unique patterns. The park is also a wildlife refuge
Wood Buffalo National Park
Park, western Canada. Situated between Athabasca and Great Slave lakes, it was established in 1922; it occupies an area of 17,300 sq mi (44,807 sq km). The world's largest park, it is a vast region of forests and plains, crossed by the Peace River and dotted with lakes. The habitat of the largest remaining herd of wood buffalo (bison) on the North American continent, as well as of bear, caribou, moose, and beaver, it also provides nesting grounds for the endangered whooping crane
Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park
National park, southeastern Alaska, U.S. Proclaimed a national monument in 1978, the area underwent boundary and name changes in 1980. The largest park in the U.S. national park system, it has an area of 12,318,000 ac (4,987,000 ha). At the convergence of the Chugach, Wrangell, and Saint Elias mountain ranges, it includes the largest assemblage of glaciers and the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 ft (4,880 m) on the continent
Yellowstone National Park
a large national park mostly in Wyoming, in the northwestern US, famous for its hot springs and geysers (=natural springs of hot water that rise suddenly into the air) , especially one called Old Faithful which many tourists come to see. National preserve in northwestern Wyoming, southern Montana, and eastern Idaho, U.S. The oldest national park in the U.S. (and in the world), it was established by the U.S. Congress in 1872; it covers 3,468 sq mi (8,983 sq km). The Gallatin Range, Absaroka Range, Snow Mountains, and Teton Range extend into it. Yellowstone has unusual geologic features, including fossil forests and eroded basaltic lava flows. It also has 10,000 hot springs, which erupt as steam vents, fumaroles, and geysers. Old Faithful, the park's most famous geyser, erupts every 33 to 93 minutes. It has many lakes and rivers, including Yellowstone Lake, Shoshone Lake, the Snake River, and the Yellowstone River. In 1988 an extensive series of forest fires laid waste to large areas of the park
Yoho National Park
National park, southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It occupies 507 sq mi (1,313 sq km) of the western and central slopes of the Rocky Mountains and is adjacent to Banff and Kootenay national parks. Known for the Burgess Shale archaeological site, geologic treasures, diverse wildlife, and scenic landscape, it was established as a national park in 1886. Features include glaciers, ice fields, steep mountains, and broad valleys. Black and grizzly bears, moose, mule deer, wapiti (elk), and mountain goats inhabit the park
Yosemite National Park
a national park in California, US, famous for its beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and large redwood trees. National preserve, central California, U.S. Made a national park in 1890, it encompasses 761,320 ac (308,106 ha) in the Sierra Nevada range. Its many features include giant redwood groves with trees thousands of years old, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall (620 ft [189 m]), and huge domes and peaks; the greatest of these is El Capitan, a granite buttress that is 3,604 ft (1,098 m) high
Zion National Park
National park, southwestern Utah, U.S. It covers an area of 229 sq mi (593 sq km); its principal feature is Zion Canyon, which was named by the Mormons who discovered it in 1858. Part of the area was first set aside as the Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909. Enlarged and renamed Zion National Monument in 1918, it was established as a national park in 1919. Zion Canyon was carved by the Virgin River and is about 15 mi (24 km) long and 0.5 mi (0.8 km) deep. Rocky domes dot the canyon walls, which contain an abundant fossil record. Excavation has yielded evidence that prehistoric peoples once inhabited the area
acadia national park
a national park in Maine showing marine erosion and glaciation; includes seashore and also the highest point on the Atlantic coast
arches national park
a national park in Utah including mountains and the Colorado River gorge and huge rock formations caused by erosion
badlands national park
a national park in South Dakota having multicolored peaks and spires resulting from erosion; fossil sites
big bend national park
a large national park in Texas featuring mountains and desert and canyons and wildlife
biscayne national park
a national park in Florida having underwater coral reefs and marine life
bryce canyon national park
a national park in Utah having multicolored rock erosions
canyonlands national park
a national park in Utah having rock formations and ancient cliff dwellings; canyons of the Green River and the Colorado River
capitol reef national park
a national park in Utah having colorful rock formations and desert plants and wildlife
carlsbad caverns national park
a national park in New Mexico featuring what is probably the world's largest cavern with spectacular underground formations
channel islands national park
a national park in California featuring sea birds and marine life
crater lake national park
a national park in Oregon having the deepest lake in the United States in the crater of an extinct volcano
denali national park
a large national park in Alaska having peaks of the Alaska Range (including Mount McKinley) and the huge Denali fault
everglades national park
a national park in Florida containing an immense subtropical wilderness with mangrove swamps and rare birds and wild animals
gates of the arctic national park
a large national park in Alaska featuring the Great Mendenhall Glacier
grand canyon national park
a national park in Arizona including the mile deep canyon of the Colorado River which shows geologic features and fossil plants and animals
grand teton national park
a national park in Wyoming featuring mountains
great smoky mountains national park
a national park in Tennessee and North Carolina that includes the highest mountain in the eastern United States
guadalupe mountains national park
a national park in Texas that has the highest point in Texas; includes desert wilderness and the ancient Apache hunting grounds
haleakala national park
a national park in Hawaii including a dormant volcano
hawaii volcanoes national park
a national park in Hawaii featuring active volcanoes
hot springs national park
a national park in Arkansas featuring ancient hot springs; bathing is said to have therapeutic effects
isle royal national park
a national park on an island in Michigan; includes prehistoric iron mines
katmai national park
a national park in Alaska featuring mountains
kenai fjords national park
a national park in Alaska having mountains and whale watching and ancient Indian copper mines
kings canyon national park
a national park in California that has giant sequoia trees and alpine lakes and glaciers
kobuk valley national park
a national park in Alaska having mountains and forests and tundra and sand dunes and archeological sites
lake clark national park
a national park in Alaska having Eskimo and Athapaskan archeological sites
lassen volcanic national park
a national park in California having mountains and volcanic lakes and hot springs
mammoth cave national park
a national park in Kentucky having a large cavern and an underground river
mesa verde national park
a national park in Colorado containing prehistoric cliff dwellings; semiarid landscape
mount ranier national park
a national park in Washington having mountain terrain featuring glaciers and alpine lakes and streams and swamps
north cascades national park
a national park in Washington that is an alpine wilderness area featuring gold rush and logging campsites
olympic national park
a national park in Washington having rain forests of giant evergreens
petrified forest national park
a national park in Arizona having the world's largest collection of petrified coniferous trees
platt national park
a national park in Oklahoma having mineral springs
redwood national park
a national park in California featuring a redwood forest and Pacific Ocean coastline
rocky mountain national park
a national park in Colorado having mountains and lakes and streams and forests
sequoia national park
a national park in California that includes Mount Whitney
shenandoah national park
a national park in Virginia for the Blue Ridge Mountains
theodore roosevelt memorial national park
a national park in North Dakota that includes the site of former President Theodore Roosevelt's ranch
virgin islands national park
a national park in the Virgin Islands having tropical plants and animals; sandy beaches and coral reefs
voyageurs national park
a national park in Minnesota having ancient rock outcroppings and evergreen forests
wind cave national park
a national park in South Dakota featuring bison herds and limestone caverns
wrangell-st. elias national park
the largest national park of the United States; located in Alaska
yellowstone national park
the first national park in the United States; located in the border area between Wyoming and Montana and Idaho; spectacular wilderness; famous for Old Faithful geyser and for buffalo and bears
yosemite national park
a national park in California famous for its waterfalls and rock formations
yosemite national park
{i} national park in California (USA)
zion national park
a national park in Utah having huge canyons and gorges carved by mountain rivers
national park