Beautiful national parks. National parks of the world. National parks of Europe

The governments of some countries are making great efforts to protect certain territories in order to preserve the cultural and natural wealth of their people for future generations.

There are over 160,000 in the world. protected areas. In total, they occupy 10% of the entire surface of the planet. Here are the biggest ones:

The largest nature reserves in the world

1. Papahanaumokuakea (area - 1.5 million km²)

The idea of ​​creating a conservation area in Hawaii was first proposed by former US President Theodore Roosevelt back in 1909. But only 100 years later, in 2006, George W. Bush, with the support of the US Department of Commerce and the Interior, who provided funding, created the National maritime monument Papahanumokuakea.

And in 2016, Barack Obama almost quadrupled the protected area, making Papahanaumokuakea the largest nature reserve in the world.

More than 7,000 species of various plant and animal species live here, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

2. Northeast Greenland National Park (area - 972 thousand km²)

Given that national park covers all northern part Greenland, it is recognized as one of the largest national parks in the world. Its dimensions are larger than the area of ​​163 of the 195 existing states in the world.

This national park is home to polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, snowy owls and many other species of wildlife, some of which are on the verge of extinction. The park was created in 1974, over time its territory increased, and in 1977 it already received the status biosphere reserve international importance.

3. Marine Protected Area of ​​the Chagos Archipelago (area - 544 thousand km²)

The territory of the world's largest marine conservation area is under the auspices of the UK and is the largest reserve of marine life on the planet.

Territory of the district more France and is located 500 km south of Maldives. The reserve covers seven atolls and coral islands with beautiful and diverse underwater natural world, which plays a key role in the formation of the local ecosystem.

Chagos is home to over 1200 species of corals, various fish and one of the rarest species of sea turtles.

4. Kavango-Zambezi transboundary reserve (area - 444 thousand km²)

The reserve covers the territory of several African countries: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is home to several national parks, including Chobe, Nhai Pan and Bwabwata, the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls.

The Kavango Zambezi was founded to protect the migration of animals from one country to another. biological resource The region contains one of the largest populations of elephants on the African continent.

5. Protected area of ​​the Phoenix Islands (area - 408 thousand km²)

The protected area is located on the territory of the Republic of Kiribati and is the largest natural reserve marine life in the Pacific Ocean.

These places are connected to the mystery of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, a famous female pilot whose plane in 1937 is believed to have disappeared in these waters.

Five of the eight protected islands are home to extremely rare endangered bird species that attract the attention of tourists and explorers. Some areas of the reserve can be visited, but only with special permission.

6. Great Barrier Reef (area - 344.4 thousand km²)

One of the most interesting natural attractions in Australia is, of course, the Great barrier reef- the largest accumulation of corals in the world. There are many in one place exotic species marine flora and fauna.

The area was declared a national park due to the fact that corals began to disappear rapidly due to pollution. environment. Now, for example, tourists and surfers visiting the nature park are required to follow strict rules of conduct.

The Great Barrier Reef is located near the state of Queensland and consists of a chain of more than 900 islands and 2,900 individual reefs, stretching 2,600 kilometers in length.

Tourism in this region brings Australia billions of dollars in income.

7. Galapagos Marine Reserve (area - 133 thousand km²)

The islands of the archipelago are located a thousand kilometers from the coast of Ecuador. The reserve is home to many species of sharks, whales, turtles, and fish. Remote location, mixing warm and cold sea ​​currents, fresh and salt water, contributed to the development of an extraordinary animal world.

Charles Darwin studied different kinds animals that lived on these islands, and later, based on the analysis of the data obtained, developed his theory of evolution.

The biggest threat to the region's biodiversity today is illegal fishing, lobster, sea cucumbers (holothurians) and some shark species.

8. Air and Tenere National Reserve (area - 77.36 thousand km²)

The protected area is located in Niger and is under the protection of UNESCO. The name appeared as a result of a combination of the names of the two regions where the reserve is located: East End on the Air plateau, and the western one in the Tener desert (part of the Sahara).

The reserve is home to various endangered animal species, and only some of its parts are accessible to tourists.

A distinctive feature of this territory are dunes, caves, canyons, underwater caves, various in shape and appearance. geographic features found only in this part of the world.

There is a mountain of real marble, as well as sand dunes with an ever-changing appearance.

9. Rangel St. Elias (area - 53.3 thousand km²)

This national park and sanctuary was created in 1980 and is located on the territory of southern Alaska and nine states of the USA.

The 16 mountain peaks of this park are the highest in the United States, and the local landscapes are reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.

10. Transfrontier Park Big Limpopo (area - 37.6 thousand km²)

protected area The park continues to expand and currently covers land in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, bringing together several national parks.

Animals inhabiting the area: African elephants, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, white rhinos, cheetahs, mongooses, etc.

Tourism is developed here, various safaris are held. Apart from standard tours by jeeps, there are canoe tours, walking tours, and various events and festivals are held for guests.

National parks and reserves are one of the few places with almost untouched nature. virgin forests, the purest lakes, rare and endangered species of animals - all this can be seen with your own eyes for a small price or even free of charge. We want to tell you about the largest and most remarkable natural parks and nature reserves in different natural areas ah Russia.

• Square: 269 ​​thousand ha
• Location: The Republic of Buryatia
• Foundation date: September 12, 1986
• Average temperature: in January −18…−19 °С, in July +12…+14 °С
• Animal world: hare, muskrat, squirrel, brown bear, elk, ermine

There are animals listed in the Red Book here - there are more than 40 rare and endangered species in the Zabaikalsky Park. The world of birds is also diverse: a black crane, a black stork, a whooper swan can be found in the park. Vegetation is of particular value: many pine, cedar and fir forests are over 200 years old. The park has many unique natural monuments- capes, islands, caves, water sources, as well as archaeological sites, such as traces of ancient settlements.

The park includes several natural complexes: Svyatoy Nos peninsula, islands of the Chivyrkuisky Gulf, Ushkany Islands. The latter, by the way, were especially chosen by ants: there are more than six thousand anthills on the islands, some of them reach the height of human growth! The Ushkany Islands are also famous for seals: in summer, hundreds of individuals gather on large stones. Seals are shy animals, so the park administration protects them from excessive attention of visitors - it will not be possible to get to the islands without special permission.

• Square: 881 thousand ha
• Location: Republic of Altai, Altai mountains
• Foundation date: April 16, 1932
• Average temperature: in January -8.3 °C, in July +16.8 °C
• Animal world: bear, sable, wolverine, deer, ermine, squirrel, roe deer

Thinking about what reserves there are in Russia, one cannot but recall the Altai Reserve. It has a rather difficult fate: twice, in 1951 and 1961, it was disbanded, but invariably restored. Its main goals are the preservation of Lake Teletskoye, the protection of forests, the rescue of sable, deer, snow leopard and other animals that are on the verge of extinction. There are many streams and springs on the territory of the reserve. clean water. The pride of the reserve is cedar forests: their age reaches 450 years.

The territory of the reserve is practically impassable, only occasionally there are narrow paths, which are guided only by foresters and some employees. This is one of the most large nature reserves Russia, its area is 9.4% of total area Republic of Altai. The reserve is included in the list of virgin or little changed ecological regions of the world.

• Square: 121 thousand ha
• Location: Primorsky Krai, Lazo village
• Foundation date: February 10, 1935
• Average temperature: in January −5.1…−12.5 °C, in August +17.4…+23.5 °C
• Animal world: spotted deer, red deer, goral, Amur tiger

Lazovsky State nature reserve Russia is named after its second director, Lev Georgievich Kaplanov. He was one of the first to study the Amur tigers, which to this day are the pride of the reserve. In 1943, Kaplanov was killed by poachers who spread to the territory of the reserve during the Great Patriotic War.

Lazovsky Reserve is the second largest in Primorye. Forests occupy 96% of the territory of the reserve. It is the preservation and study of coniferous-deciduous forests that is one of the main goals of creating the reserve. In addition, employees are trying to preserve populations of animal species listed in the Red Book. For example, on the territory of the reserve there are 14 adult Amur tigers and more than 200 gorals, an artiodactyl animal of the goat subfamily.

• Square: 17 thousand ha
• Location: Primorsky Krai
• Foundation date: 1916
• Average temperature: in January -13 °C, in August +21 °C
• Animal world: Far Eastern leopard, Amur tiger, Far Eastern forest cat, Himalayan bear, roe deer, wild boar, exotic butterflies

Kedrovaya Pad is one of the oldest nature reserves in Russia. At the beginning of the 20th century, after the creation of the Trans-Siberian railway line and the strengthening of Vladivostok as trading port intensive development of Primorye began. The development was accompanied by deforestation, forest fires, random hunting, including for rare animals. In 1910, a forestry was organized on the site of the reserve, which sought to preserve the unique virgin forests. Thanks to the foresters, deforestation, mining, and hunting stopped in Kedrovaya Pad, and soon the reserve itself was created.

More than 900 species of plants grow here; some of them are not found anywhere except the "Kedrovaya Pad". Forests occupy 73% of the area of ​​the reserve. Particularly noteworthy are black fir forests, which are almost impossible to find anywhere else. The black fir, which got its name from its dark bark, is the largest tree in the world. Far East. The fauna of the reserve is also diverse - from the flying squirrel to the Far Eastern leopard, listed in the Red Book.

• Square: 134 thousand ha
• Location: Samara Region
• Foundation date: April 28, 1984
• Animal world: bat, golden eagle, elk, roe deer

On the territory of the park there are about 200 natural and historical monuments, among them mounds, mountains and caves. The park is also rich in archaeological finds. For example, in the territory Samara bow”found burial mounds of the 7th–8th centuries and traces of the Murom town, settlements of the 9th–13th centuries.

More than 30,000 bats live in old adits in the park - 15 species in total, some of which are listed in the Red Book. Many tourists, when visiting the galleries, made noise, kindled fires, took pictures of animals. Since bats are very sensitive, human intervention ended in death for many. To preserve the animal population, park officials have limited access to adits. However, the Park Science and Technology Council decided to create a "Bat Museum" so that visitors can still get to know the lifestyle of bats and their role in nature.

• Square: 1,462.37 km2
• Location: Smolensk region
• Foundation date: April 15, 1992
• Animal world: beaver, squirrel, mink, golden eagle

The park has 35 glacial lakes- hence the name "Smolensk Lakeland". This national park seeks not only to protect nature, but also to engage in environmental education. "Smolenskoye Poozerye" gladly accepts tourists, organizes cultural events: bard song festivals, marches, excursions. For example, in spring and autumn, a competition in sports ornithology is held among the guests of the park - this, roughly speaking, is a photo hunting for birds.

Sixty-five plant species of the "Smolensk Poozerie" are listed in the Red Book Smolensk region, 10 of them - in the Red Book of Russia. Also rare are 26 species of birds and six species of mammals in the park.

• Square: 6,621 ha
• Location: Kaliningrad region
• Foundation date: November 6, 1987
• Animal world: elk, wild boar, roe deer, fox, badger, finch, starling

In the north, the Curonian Spit Park adjoins the Russian-Lithuanian border. This is a favorite vacation spot for Kaliningraders and guests. Kaliningrad region: despite its small size, the Curonian Spit is one of the most visited national parks in the country. Once upon a time, Scandinavians, Germans, and Balts lived on its territory. Therefore, the "Curonian Spit" keeps a lot of archaeological monuments from different eras: burial grounds, sites, traces of ancient settlements.

« curonian spit” can be called a “museum of natural areas” - after all, on its territory you can find a variety of landscapes, from birch forests to sand dunes. And only here you can see dancing forest»: pines planted in the park in the 60s of the XX century are fancifully bent, resembling the figures of dancing people.

• Square: 1,585 km²
• Location: Novgorod region
• Foundation date: May 17, 1990
• Average temperature: in January -10 °C, in July +16…+17 °C
• Animal world: elk, marten, lynx, otter, bear, hare, badger, fox

Valdai National Park got its name from the city of Valdai, which is over 500 years old. In addition to 82 archaeological sites, the park is notable for architectural and architectural monuments - these are ancient estates, a monastery of the 17th century, a church of the 18th century. Since the park is located close to Moscow and St. Petersburg, it is one of the most visited in Russia. Eighty-six percent of the area is occupied by forests, where spruce, birch, and pine mainly grow.

Valdai National Park holds many exhibitions and environmental education events, for example, game quests for schoolchildren. During the competition, children must carefully study the information about the park in order to find the treasure.

• Square: 659 thousand ha
• Location: Irkutsk region
• Foundation date: December 5, 1986
• Average temperature: in January -15 °C, in July +14 °C
• Animal world: bear, deer, lynx, wolf, white-tailed eagle, black stork

You can get to the Baikal-Lena Reserve only by water, by boat. The attraction of the reserve is the coast of brown bears. In May, from a ship or an observation tower, you can see how the owners of the taiga walk along the coastline. On the territory of the reserve there are also the oldest volcanoes in the world - they are more than a thousand million years old!

More than 300 species of vertebrates, more than 240 species of birds and 100 species of butterflies live in the reserve. In the administrative building of the Baikal-Lena Reserve, which is located in Irkutsk, there is a museum of nature and a visitor-information center.

• Square: 303.8 km²
• Location: Chelyabinsk region
• Foundation date: May 14, 1920
• Average temperature: in January -21 °C, in July +18 °C
• Animal world: stoat, forest polecat, hare, brown bear, flying squirrel, wolf

The Ilmensky Reserve is interesting not only for tourists, but also for geologists. On its territory there are deposits precious stones and rare minerals: sapphire, zircon, topaz, aquamarine. It was here that 16 minerals were first discovered. Since 1930, a mineralogical museum has been open to visitors, which presents more than 200 minerals found in the reserve.

Since 1935, not only minerals, but also plants and animals have been protected in the reserve. You can get to the Ilmensky Reserve by car from Chelyabinsk or by public transport from Miass.

Such parks can cover vast areas with impenetrable forests, islands, coastal waters, and even mountain ranges and volcanoes. Unlike nature reserves and reserves, the protection regime in natural parks is the least strict. And these parks are a great opportunity for tourists to get acquainted with natural resources country or region. And here is a list of the most beautiful and impressive national parks in the world.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan

The park, located southwest of Tokyo, is one of Japan's most popular parks. Within the park is active volcano Fuji with its five lakes, the Izu Peninsula and the islands around it, as well as waterfalls, hot springs and ancient temples. Especially beautiful is the volcano of the most symmetrical shape, wrapped in clouds in spring and summer - its greatness is immortalized in the works of many poets and artists.

Grand Canyon National Park, USA

This is probably the most famous national park in the world, and, as a result, the most photographed. The Grand Canyon in Arizona achieved national park status in 1919, three years after the founding of the US National Park Service. About five million people visit this park every year to see with their own eyes the amazing beauty of the canyon, which the Colorado River has carved for millions of years. South edge the canyon is the most visited, the most numerous observation platforms are located here. On the northern edge of the canyon, located 300 meters higher, there is much less people, but it is good for its wild flowering meadows, spruce forests and aspen groves. The rest of the canyon is remote and difficult to access, although some areas can be reached via hiking trails and back roads.

Guilin National Park, China

Located in southeast China, the park is famous for its karst and limestone natural formations and beautiful hills with colorful names like "Elephant's Trunk" and "Dragon's Head". The nature of the park inspired many Chinese poets and artists, and some parts of the park were even depicted on local banknotes. To see all the beauty of Guilin, it is best to take a 50-kilometer cruise on the Lijiang River, from Guilin to Yangshuo.

Banff National Park, Canada

This is the oldest national park in Canada, created in 1885 in Canadian rocky mountains Oh. Lonely Planet describes Banff Park as: "Mountains, high mountains, mountains everywhere. Fast rivers carry their waters between beautiful hills. Huge glaciers slide down from the peaks and practically touch the ground. Lakes with turquoise water shimmer in the sun - so saturated that it seems as if the water has been tinted.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The oldest and most popular national park in Tanzania is a facility world heritage. The Serengeti is world famous for its annual migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles, and buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, swamps, impalas, lions and leopards run between amazing acacias. And here, probably, the most enchanting sunsets in the world.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Considered by many to be the most spectacular national park in the world. South America. Located on the edge of the continent, the park is known for its granite peaks and emerald forests, shining blue glaciers and azure lakes. Many tourists come here for walks and hikes.

Swiss National Park, Switzerland

Founded in 1914, the Swiss National Park is the oldest national park in the Alps and central Europe, as well as the only national park in the country. It is famous for its unique alpine plants - in particular, edelweiss, which grows only high in the mountains. And in this park there are alpine animals - chamois, deer and marmots. Through the park, an 80-kilometer network of trails is laid, which turns these areas into a paradise for hikers.

Lake District National Park, England

The land that inspired artist William Turner and writer Beatrix Potter became a national park in 1951. The park is a valley with granite boulders and 16 amazing beautiful lakes resting in the lowlands. These places are chosen by cyclists and amateurs. aquatic species sports - windsurfing, kayaking and fishing.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Located on the South Island, the park is the largest national park in the country. It covers severe mountain ranges, 14 magnificent fjords and world famous waterfalls. Two of the park's most famous attractions are Milford Sound Fjord, which Rudyard Kipling called "the eighth wonder of the world" and Doubtful Sound Fjord, which can only be reached by water. People come to the national park for bird watching, boating, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking.

Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

The first national park in the world today is one of the smallest national parks in Costa Rica. But, despite its size, it shows the world gorgeous nature- lush rainforests, beaches and rocky headlands. There are sloths, iguanas and squirrel monkeys in the jungle, colorful fish swim in the waters, bright butterflies flutter in the air - a real idyll!

The diversity of wildlife is the key to our well-being.

The nature of our planet is amazingly rich and diverse. The world is full of amazing creations. Where man does not interfere, nature lives and forms according to the perfect laws established by the Creator. But with the advent of civilization, everything changes. Unfortunately, since time immemorial man has killed animals and cut down forests. Over time, people populated almost the entire planet. As a result of human activity, many plants and animals have lost their usual habitats or even disappeared from the face of the Earth.

Purpose of creating national parks.

The main purpose of the creation of national parks and reserves is the protection of living organisms, balancing on the verge of extinction. If there were no protected areas, elephants, rhinos, bison and bison would remain only in zoos, and some animals, such as Komodo dragons - giant monitor lizards that live only in Komodo National Park (on the island of the same name), would disappear altogether. However, despite the common name, National parks each created for its own specific purpose.

Introduction

1. The purpose of creating national parks

2. Rationale for the choice of topic

3. Main idea of ​​the work

4 Main body

• National parks of the world
• Paanajärvi National Park
• Taganay National Park
• Zabaikalsky National Park
• Olympic National Park
• yellowstone national park
• Monteverde National Park

5. Information sources

Main part

A national park is an area where human activities are restricted for the purpose of protecting the environment.

Unlike nature reserves, where human activity is almost completely prohibited (hunting, tourism, etc. are prohibited), tourists are allowed into the territory of national parks, and economic activities are allowed on a limited scale.

There are over 1000 national parks in the world. There are 29 of them in Russia.

Paanajärvi National Park. Russia.

Paanajärvi National Park is located in the north-west of the Republic of Karelia, in its most elevated part. The Paanajärvi National Park was founded on May 20, 1992 by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation. The area of ​​the national park is 104,473 hectares.

Flora is the main attraction of the park. Its originality is determined by three factors - the low-mountain nature of the relief, the presence of carbonate rocks (dolomites) favorable for the growth of many calciphilous plants, and, finally, the presence of large natural massifs untouched by man.

217 species of vertebrates are registered in the area of ​​the national park: 36 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians and reptiles, 17 species of fish and 1 species of cyclostomes.

The pearl of the park is Lake Paanajärvi, characterized by its small size (1.5 by 24 km) and exceptional depth (128 m). There are many rapids on the rivers, there are significant waterfalls. Reservoirs abound with valuable species of fish.

The natural and historical value of the park is unique. Beautiful landscapes, rich flora and animal world, the opportunity to relax in pristine silence, rich fishing - all this attracts tourists, researchers, photographers, and many nature lovers to visit the park. Currently, about 2.5 thousand visitors a year visit the national park. It is planned to increase the number of tourists in the next three years to 6-8 thousand per year.

Taganay National Park(Russia)

Taganay National Park was organized in 1991. It is located in the western part of the Chelyabinsk region, on the territory of the Zlatoust and Kusinsky administrative districts. The length of the park from north to south is 52 km, from west to east an average of 10-15 km.

Taganay National Park is located in one of the most the most unique corners Southern Urals- in the area of ​​the Taganay mountain junction, a little north of the ancient Ural city of Zlatoust. Many valuable ecological systems, such as mountain tundra and meadows, have been preserved almost untouched here.

About 800 species of higher vascular plants have been noted in the flora, of which 28 are rare and endangered. Roe deer, wild boar, elk, beaver, brown bear, lynx, wolf, marten, ermine, weasel, otter live.

On the territory of the national park there are ancient mineral mines, the riches of which are presented in the collections of many mineralogical museums both in Russia and abroad. In a word, the Taganay National Park is a small Mountain country with its peaks and intermountain valleys, swift mountain rivers and swampy swamps, tundra and small taiga, the place is perhaps one of the most beautiful in the Southern Urals.

Zabaikalsky National Park (Russia)

The Zabaikalsky National Park was established in 1986 on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia in order to preserve the unique natural complex of the Baikal basin. The national park is located on east coast lake Baikal, in the central part of the Republic of Buryatia, on the territory of the Barguzinsky district. In the north, the territory of the Barguzinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve adjoins the border of the national park.

The flora includes many endemic, rare and relict plants. According to preliminary estimates, the flora of the park is more than 700 species of vascular plants. There are habitats of many species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, 19 endemic species, 9 species rare in Baikal.

291 species of terrestrial vertebrates are registered on the territory of the national park: 44 species of mammals, 241 species of birds, 3 reptiles and 3 species of amphibians. The most common types of mammals of medium and large sizes: hare, squirrel, muskrat, sable, ermine, brown bear, red deer, elk. 49 species of terrestrial vertebrates found in the park are listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation.

Olympic National Park. (USA)

Olympic National Park is located in the northwestern United States, in the state of Washington, famous for its amazing nature. The total area of ​​the park is 350,000 hectares. Here, in the Pacific fog that shrouds the coast and the forest, they hide big trees, as well as the broken line coastline. The climate of this area is one of the wettest on the planet. The park has mountains snow-capped peaks and with slowly sliding glaciers, as well as rainforests, as mysterious and dark as the rainforests in the Amazon region.

In 1788, an English captain, in honor of the legendary home of the mythical gods of Ancient Greece, named the highest of these mountains (its height is almost 2,500 meters) Olympus. And in 1938, in order to preserve the inviolability of the virgin nature of these places, the Olympic National Park was created.

Virunga National Park (Africa)

Virunga is one of the oldest national parks in Africa. It is located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For 300 kilometers, the border of the park coincides with the state borders of Rwanda and Uganda. The official birth year of Virunga Park is 1929. Then it was named Albert and Kivu National Park. In 1969, a separate Virunga National Park was separated from the Albert and Kivu single conservation area.

Currently, the territory of the park borders on the lands of the Ruwenzori National Park in Uganda and the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. A few years ago, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda took the initiative to establish a transboundary biosphere reserve in border area, which was supposed to include the Virunga National Park.

The area of ​​the Virunga National Park is 790 thousand hectares. Landscapes in the national park are very diverse. Here you can find grassy and woody savannahs, undersized permanently wet forests, bamboo thickets, swamps, meadows and glaciers.

Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Yellowstone National Park - founded by the US Congress in 1872, it became the first national park in the country. The park occupies almost 900 thousand hectares and is located mainly on the lands of the state of Wyoming.

The main attractions of the park - geysers and Mammoth hot springs - make a huge number of tourists flock here from all over the world.

The geysers of Yellowstone are considered unsurpassed in their grandeur. The colossal power of geysers is hard to imagine - some of them throw out about 5 thousand tons of water at a time to a height of up to 100 meters. Each ejection lasts a few seconds, then the column of water falls and the geyser subsides until the next time.

Another attraction of the park is Mammoth Hot Springs. Over the centuries and millennia, hot waters saturated with various chemical impurities have formed deposits of complex and diverse shapes - streaks, stepped terraces, pyramids and even something like stalactites that suggest a cave located on the surface of the earth.

Most of the park is occupied by coniferous forests, in which many animals that are close to extinction in other areas have found refuge.

Here you can meet black, bison, elk and deer, as well as many smaller animals and a huge number of birds.

Monteverde National Park (Costa Rica)

In the 1960s, a group of scientists and local residents founded the Cloud Forest Reserve in Monteverde, which eventually included the watershed zone. Since then, the reserve has been expanded several times, and now it covers approximately 10,500 hectares.

This reserve is one of the most attractive places in Costa Rica. Every year, about 50,000 tourists climb the steep, winding dirt road to reach Monteverde. Numerous bird lovers and naturalists come here to observe all kinds of birds, animals and plants that have found refuge in the reserve and nearby areas.

Conclusion

In the 20th and 19th centuries, environmental pollution became a real problem for almost the entire planet. Waste can enter underground water supplies and cause serious harm to human and animal health. “We don't know what to do with all the chemicals produced by modern industry,” admitted a Hungarian scientist from the Budapest Institute of Hydrology. “We can't even keep track of them.”

Our goal is to preserve unique geothermal phenomena, grassy prairies, unique glaciers, breathtaking views, an abundance of life forms.

Information sources

1. www.nparks.ru
2. www.vokrugsveta.ru
3. Disks - Golden Globe "US National Parks
4. Dorysheva V. A. “National parks and reserves”
5. Zaikin S. N. “Wonders of the World”
6. Marchenkova A. V. “This wonderful world”
7. Shcherbakov V. I. “National parks of the world”

Protecting natural societies appeared in the 16th century. However, the first national park was discovered only at the end of the 19th century, in the USA. This one really high honor was awarded the unique Yellowstone Plateau, rich in geysers and hot mineral springs where Yellowstone National Park was opened in 1872. In 1916, the United States created the Service national parks. Such US national parks as the Grand Canyon, Jasper, Olympic and others are now well known outside of North America.

The best reserves and national parks in the world

Since then, many national parks. The first national park in Europe was established in 1914 in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. Then, in 1922, the Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy was opened. First national park in France there was Vanoise, created in 1963. It borders the Italian Gran Paradiso for 14 kilometers. There are seven national parks in France, three of which are located in the Alpine crescent that stretches from France to Austria. The alpine crescent also contains other famous national parks of the world: Berchtesgaden in Germany, Hohe Tauern in Austria, Stelvio in Italy and Triglav in Slovenia.

Yellowstone - US national park

Yellowstone National Park- probably the most world famous national park. It is located on the border of the US states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The park, founded on March 1, 1872, is famous for its numerous geysers, and Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest highland lakes in North America- located in the crater of the largest supervolcano on the continent. Therefore, most of the park is covered with solidified lava.

There are almost 3,000 geysers in Yellowstone, which is two-thirds of all geysers in the world. Here is the world's largest geyser Steamboat, as well as one of the most famous geysers in the world - a geyser Old campaigner. The latter throws out jets hot water to a height of more than forty meters, and the interval between eruptions is from 45 to 125 minutes. Besides Yellowstone, there are only four geyser fields- Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka, as well as fields in Iceland, Chile and New Zealand.

In addition to geysers, the park has about ten thousand different geothermal sources, including hot and hydrogen sulfide springs and mud volcanoes. Half of all geothermal sources in the world are concentrated in Yellowstone. In addition, about two thousand species of plants grow here, there are several hundred species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Name " Plitvice lakes” was first recorded in 1777, in 1949 the lakes received the status national park, and 30 years later were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the territory of the park there are 16 large karst lakes, 140 waterfalls, 20 caves. Moreover, Plitvice Lakes is one of the few national parks world where new waterfalls are born every year. A characteristic feature of the park is the color of the water. Pictures of the lakes look like a photomontage, but the water here is really azure. You can admire it from wooden decks, the total length of which reaches 18 km.

The park also has hiking trails, a walk along the shortest of which takes two hours, and along the longest - eight. A boat also runs on the lakes, and mountain roads can be viewed using an electric train with observation cars. It is strictly forbidden to swim in the lakes of the park, as well as to have picnics, make fires, and bring dogs. In addition, a unique beech and coniferous forest preserved from ancient times and has the ability to self-repair.

Snowdonia, UK

Snowdonia National Park, located in the north of Wales, was created 60 years ago and became one of the first three national parks in England and Wales. The park owes its name to Mount Snowdon (1085 m), which is the highest point in Wales.

Unlike reserves in other countries, Snowdonia, like other national parks in the world, includes both public and private lands. Moreover, about 26 thousand people live in the park, while about 6 million tourists visit it annually. Snowdonia has 2,381 km of open hiking trails, 264 km of trails for walkers and horseback riders and 74 km of other trails. open roads. Moreover, Mount Snowdon can be reached both along a picturesque hiking trail 13 km long and by funicular. At the same time, the routes of several historical railways pass through the park.

Grand Canyon, USA

The Grand Canyon is one of the most deep canyons in the world is located on the Colorado Plateau, in US state Arizona. Its length is 446 km, and the depth reaches 1600 m. The canyon was cut by the Colorado River in the thickness of limestone, shale and sandstone about 5-6 million years ago. These arguably the most complete geological outcrops in the world represent the history of the Earth over 1.5 billion years. Moreover, the canyon continues to grow today.

Approximately 2 million people visit the Grand Canyon Reserve every year, with the most popular among tourists being rafting down the Colorado on inflatable rafts. The climate on the plateau and at the bottom of the canyon differs sharply - when it is about fifteen degrees of heat above, at the bottom of the gorge, among the red-hot stones, the temperature rises to plus forty. Therefore, most tourists prefer to admire the canyon from observation platforms located on its banks. Indeed, in order to descend to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, it will take more than one hour.

Serengeti, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park is famous for the huge number of animals living in this area. According to scientists, about five hundred species of birds and three million large animals live here. Moreover, a significant part of the animals (wildbeests and zebras) annually migrate from the north of the park, where drought sets in, to the south. With the onset of the rainy season in April-June, animals migrate to the west and north. In addition, the largest population of lions on the planet of all the national parks in the world lives here. The Serengeti is also home to thousands of elephants, gazelles, hyenas, hippos and rhinos. And the name of the park in the Masai language means “endless plains”, because most of the territory of the Serengeti is an endless savannah.

Fiordland, New Zealand

Fiordland National Park- the largest in New Zealand, it occupies most mountainous southwestern part South Island. Here are the most deep lakes New Zealand, and the mountains in this part of the island reach a height of 2746 meters. Fiordland is still one of the most inaccessible areas of New Zealand. In addition to picturesque fjords, waterfalls and fast-flowing rivers, the park is famous for its rich flora and fauna.

Rare species of birds live in dense forests, for example, cockatoo parrots. During a visit to Fiordland, you can see a bottlenose dolphin or penguins. One of the most popular places in the park is Milford Sound, which the famous writer Rudyard Kipling called "the eighth wonder of the world." The bay, about 16 km long, is surrounded majestic mountains over a kilometer high. Moreover, this is one of the wettest places on the planet: only every third day is not marked by rain.

Iguazu, Argentina-Brazil

Name Iguazu Falls comes from the Guarani words y (water) and guasu (large). Legend has it that God wanted to marry a beautiful Aboriginal woman, but she ran away with her lover in a canoe. In anger, God cut the river, creating waterfalls, dooming the lovers to an eternal fall.

Today, a complex of 270 waterfalls has formed on the Iguazu River. Par is located on the border of the Brazilian state of Parana and the Argentinean province of Misiones. The border between the countries is marked by the Devil's Throat waterfall, which is 150 m wide and 7000 m long. This is the largest waterfall of the complex. The height of the water fall on Igausa reaches 82 meters, but on most waterfalls it does not exceed 60 meters. You can see the waterfalls thanks to the bridges, the total length of which is about 2 km.

Banff National Park, Canada

The oldest banff national park canada was founded in 1885. Two trans-Canada highways pass through the southern part of the park - the railway and the highway. Just when laying railway in 1883, hot springs were accidentally discovered in caves on the eastern slopes of the mountains. Two years later, these places were recognized as unique and taken under protection.

The park was named rocky mountain park” and became the first national park in Canada and the second created in North America, after Yellowstone National Park. Today it is one of the most visited national parks in the world. After all, here you can find everything that is associated with Canada: landscapes of extraordinary beauty and the smell of fir trees. There are glaciers, hot springs, hiking trails, ski slopes. The center of the park is the highest locality Canada, the city of Banff., Located at an altitude of 1463 m above sea level.

Torres del Paine, Chile

Torres del Paine National Park located in southern Chile, in Patagonia. The name of the park, translated from the language of the Araucan Indians, means "Blue Towers". It is the three needle-like granite mountains, whose height ranges from 2600 to 2850 m, that have become the symbol of the national park. The most high point Torres del Peine is the mountain of Paine Grande, whose height is 3,050 m.

There are two trails in the park. One of them takes 4 days, the second - about a week. At the same time, the park is one of the most visited tourist sites in Chile. After all, there are glaciers, high mountains, lakes, forests, many animals and birds live here, and even orchids can be found among the flowers.

Tatras, Poland-Slovakia

Two Tatra National Parks - one in Poland, the other in Slovakia - have common border 64 km long. This is the most high part Carpathians, the length of which is approximately 60 km. These mountains were formed by glaciers, so the Tatras have many U-shaped valleys, mountain lakes with incredible clear water. Green areas and bare rocks occupy more than a quarter of the national park.

The flora of the Tatras is made up of more than a thousand species of plants, and the chamois can be called a living symbol of the park. This is a small animal from the subfamily of goats weighing 30-35 kg, covered with thick wool. Despite conservation efforts, these animals are still on the verge of extinction. There are also deer, wild boars, roe deer, and also wolves, bears and lynxes in the park. Due to its diverse relief, the Tatras are a favorite vacation spot for skiers.