Exploring the History of National Parks in the United States

Nature can present many interesting vistas, sights, and experiences. National parks are important sites of conservation that help capture and preserve some of these scenes in nature. This article will cover a brief discussion about national parks in the United States, and the interesting experiences they have to offer. To begin, there are officially 63 national parks in the United States, and there are even more historical sites and natural landmarks scattered throughout the country. These important sites preserve and memorialize the many natural sites and significant events that are an integral part of American history. These locations also offer up some of the greatest views in nature. On the other hand, some locations can have historical importance and can give insights into early America. In particular, national parks have become some of the most frequented spots in America by tourists, and, in this article, we will describe some of the unique experiences these parks have to offer.

 

Glacier Bay National Park: This national park, located on the Alaskan coast, is the largest national park in the entire country. The park is sized at over 13 million acres and it is larger than many of the country’s states, such as Massachusetts and New York for example. When early colonists were still exploring the Alaskan region in the late 1700s, this park was not even fully formed yet, since at that point it was still immersed under a massive layer of glacial ice. However, over time, this ice disappeared, leaving behind the scarred lands and valleys that tourists get to explore today. Tourists, who decide to visit this park, often choose to come by the sea where they can take in the mountainsides and views from the comfort of a boat. Traveling by boats also lets tourists watch out for local marine wildlife like orca and humpback whales, who call the bay their home. This park is a testament to Alaskan wildlife and history, and it is definitely a park worth going to if you are making any plans to explore Alaska.

 

Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone National Park is one the most renowned parks in the world, and it has even inspired a number of different movies and television series. On the surface of the park, there lies sprawling meadows, rolling plateaus, and deep valleys, with herds of bison and other wildlife grazing, but beneath the surface there is a chaotic volcanic system actively shaping the park. Yellowstone National Park is situated on a massive caldera and one of the most active volcanic systems in the United States. This volcanic activity has created a number of interesting sites at the park, and the bubbling mud, boiling molten rock, and continuously erupting geysers put on a dynamic and artistic display for park visitors. Interestingly, the Grand Prismatic Spring, a popular site at the park, has a colorful display of blue and tan colors, due to an assortment of minerals, algae, and bacteria in the water. However, while these sites are beautiful and alluring, the pools are full of scalding water and tourists need to be sure to follow park safety guidelines to avoid personal harm.

 

Mammoth Cave: Hiding under the dense forests of Kentucky lies a deep labyrinth of complicated tunnels and passages, which we now call Mammoth Cave. This national park, Mammoth Cave, is the largest known cave system in the entire world. Tourists frequent this wonderful park because of its multi-leveled cave systems and its passages that total over an astonishing 400 miles in length. Interestingly, this cave actually played an important role to the American colonists in the War of 1812, as its deposits of calcium nitrate were used to create a saltpeter, an essential ingredient for gunpowder. Native Americans have also been known to use Mammoth Cave as a site for harvesting a number of resources as well, including gypsum. Gypsum can be used as a jointing and crafting material for building shelters. It can also be used for more artistic applications such as creating interesting pottery. Mammoth Cave is a natural and historical wonder, and it can give a one of a kind experience with nature, as well insight into the history of America’s native peoples. 

 

Carlsbad Caverns: Situated in the Chihuahuan Desert and at the base of the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico, the Carlsbad Caverns are a mesmerizing site full of intricate and large cave systems. Due to mineral rich water seeping from the ground above the caverns, a whole host of unique rock formations were created over hundreds of thousands of years. This mineral water, which deposited limestone into the cavern’s ceiling, floor, and walls, created a beautiful city of stalagmites and stalagmites among other rock formations. These ornately created rock formations have become prized art for Americans, with tourists coming from all over the world just to witness these wonderfully made structures. The Carlsbad Caverns, interestingly enough, is also full of over a million Mexican freetail bats. There are so many of these bats living in these caves that at night time, when the bats exit the cave, you can hear the thundering percussion of thousands of bats exiting the cave almost each minute.

 

Redwood National Park: The next national park on this list, Redwood National Park, is positioned on the coasts of California, and it is called home by forests of massive redwoods. These trees are so magnificent and huge, that they continue to attract tourists who wish to gaze upon their size and splendor. Many of these trees are beautiful, ancient beings over hundreds of years old. Redwood Creek, an important site located in the park, contains some of the largest known redwoods and trees, which are particularly old. Typically, only about one in a million redwood seeds will actually survive long enough to grow into adult trees. However, once established, these trees can live for hundreds of years and can commonly grow to over 200 feet. Some of the larger trees can even grow to be over 350 feet and have astonishingly been alive for over two thousand years. Due to the uniqueness of the redwood ecosystems in this park, it is now deemed a World Heritage Site. Park guests are welcome to view and appreciate these amazing trees, but they are also encouraged to treat these ancient beings with the utmost care and respect, being careful to not trample on their delicate root systems.

 

Haleakala National Park: Mount Haleakala, the final park covered in this blog post, is both a mountain and dormant volcano located in Maui, Hawaii. This dormant volcano has left a massive crater, sized at about 2,700 ft deep and over 19 square miles in area. This huge crater is a powerful sight to behold, and so it is no surprise that this park has become one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Hawaii. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the fragile and delicate ecosystems in the park, not all of the park is accessible to tourists. Nonetheless, much of the park’s beauty can be seen with the trails that are open and available to park goers. Beautiful coastal trails and more allow hikers to witness the surrounding ocean, in addition to the island's tropical plants, such as the ginger and mango plants.

 

Many of the best artworks and views across the world are created by nature. Whether it be intricate ecosystems, uncommon rock formations, or just interesting looking plants or animals, national parks can offer many unique experiences for visitors. These parks can also be important sites of American history as well, and they are worth exploring for anyone considering traveling in the United States.