Beautiful park names. National parks and reserves of Russia. Volcanoes in Hawaii

The first park appeared on earth before our era. But even today there are philanthropists who do not allow beauty to disappear from the face of the earth. The more man encroached on the values ​​of nature, the more actively the parks grew. In Europe, they appeared already in the 10th century, then - in the States, later - in Africa.

Countries where there are nature reserves and National parks, make up most all states. A national park or reserve is a part of pristine nature that civilization has not walked through. In the United States, parks were created exclusively for recreation, in Russia - for nature protection, in Asia - a combination of the first and second.

Man is a curious being. Avoid beauty? No, he's on his way.

Features of ecotourism

Traveling through parks and reserves is very different from other types of tourism. It has a name - ecological tourism. The name is conditional. It is also called “soft”, “green”, “natural”, the essence does not change. Some refer to it as "adventure travel" and, perhaps, come closest to the truth.

Millions travel every day! Few people venture into ecotourism. Sometimes such travelers are called "psychos". But isn't that a compliment? A person is alive as long as he is capable of doing crazy things.

The main feature of ecotourism is to give up comfort. Postulate - do not harm nature.

Important Factors

What does nature give people? I would like to say - everything. It enables him to understand the meaning of being, i.e. opportunity to look within. The further a person moves, the more the thirst grows in him, the needs become wider: to look into every corner, to get to the bottom. Few people decide on such a journey alone, that is, another opportunity appears - to better know who is next to you: friend or foe.

Ecological tourism is also our contribution to their safety.

Countries and continents

• Voroninsky nature reserve, Russia.
• Reserve "Kuznetsk Alatau", Russia.
• Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus.
• Levens Hall, England.
• Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany.
• Oulanka park. Finland.
• Swiss old park.
• Rangel St. Elias, a park in the USA.
• Greenlandic national park, the largest in the world.
• Limpopo Park, Africa.
• Kruger Game Reserve, Africa.
• The oldest African reserve Serengeti,
• Snowdonia, North Wales.
• Taman Negara, a park in Malaysia.
• Alnwick Poison Garden, England.

Are you willing to take this trip?

Can a child go on such a journey? Quite if there is a reliable person nearby. This can be done by a pensioner, the main thing is to choose the right route. If you feel "thirsty", tired of the ordinary - go for it. You will not just relax, you will learn a lot of interesting things, you will look at the world with different eyes! Yes, for yourself too.

If you are going on a "green" journey, fit it:

• Leave all care in your native land,
• Imagine you're Robinson Crusoe
• Think about how you will manage without the usual things,
• Take what you can't do without
• While traveling, eat the foods that will be offered to you,
• Be patient, accept other concepts, another language, other rules, remember - you are a guest,
• Be sure to keep a diary!

Principles

Why are nature reserves and national parks important? The ability to preserve originality.

Going on a journey, do not look back at others, only you are responsible for your life. Not a single person can "nourish" the soul in the way that nature, which you touch, will do.

Reserves and national parks of the world updated: March 3, 2019 by: Glonass Travel

National (natural) park— a protected area of ​​the territory (water area) with intact natural complex, often with unique objects (waterfalls, canyons, picturesque landscapes, etc.). Combines the protection of landscapes with the admission of visitors for recreation. Given that their purpose is mass tourism, natural parks have a significant area.

There are currently more than a thousand national parks.

Greenlandic

The largest national park in the world - Greenlandic- located in the northeast of the island of Greenland. Its area is about 70 million hectares. This only park in Greenland is also the northernmost of all the national parks in the world. The park is home to 40% of the world population of musk musk oxen. Among the protected animals, the polar bear, walrus, arctic fox, ermine, lemming, arctic hare, different types seals, seals, narwhals, whales, etc. Reindeer disappeared from the park back in 1990. Wolves often visit the park.

yellowstone national park

The world's first national park was opened in 1872 in the USA. It was Yemouston National Park located on the Yellowstone Plateau. The area of ​​the park is 898.3 thousand hectares. This is one of the oldest parks in the world. First of all, it is famous for its hot springs. Geysers shoot out jets hot water and steam to a height of up to 90 m. Eruptions occur regularly at regular intervals. The water of geysers and hot springs, rich in calcium and silicon, forms bizarre sinter terraces rising to a considerable height.

1870 plant species grow in the park, of which eight species are conifers. 80% of all forest areas are occupied by lodgepole pine. Of the deciduous trees, aspens, willows, and birches are more common than others (mostly in the undergrowth). Of the flowering plants of the park, sand-loving abronia, or Yellowstone sand verbena, should be noted. This plant is found in the wild only within the boundaries of the park. About 60 species of mammals are found in the park, including rare ones: wolf, lynx, grizzly bear, American bison, black bear (baribal), wapiti deer, elk, black-tailed deer, mountain goat, pronghorn, bighorn, cougar, etc.

Yellowstone National Park is a great tourist destination. It receives up to 3 million visitors a year. All conditions are created for them, various excursions and routes are organized. But plots untouched nature are still preserved. They have no roads and access is severely restricted. The park is considered a biosphere protected area. Thanks to the Yellowstone National Park, it was possible to preserve and restore the bison population.

Komodo

One of the most interesting national parks in the world Komodo National Park, which is located on several islands that are part of the Lesser Sunda Islands archipelago (Indonesia). The world's only population of the world's largest lizard, Komodo dragons (lizards), lives here. They are covered with strong scales and have a rather long tail. Komodo dragons have five toes on their feet. According to some reports, it was these lizards that became the prototype of dragons, about which Chinese sailors made up legends.

The national park currently functions as a strict biosphere reserve. The habitat of the monitor lizard is also fully protected.

The world learned about the existence of this huge lizard in 1912, when one of the European pilots made a forced landing and told in his homeland about what he saw. The Indonesian monitor lizard really makes a frightening impression: length - about 3.5 m, weight - up to 150 kg, a huge mouth with many teeth. The appearance of the lizard is in many ways reminiscent of extinct dinosaurs. Varan is a predator. It hunts wild deer and pigs, runs fast and swims well, is extremely voracious, easily eats 6 kg of meat at one time. The animal is undeniably unique, having no analogues in the world.

Serengeti

In the zone African savannah enjoys particular fame Serengeti national park in Tanzania. He owes this to the famous biologist, ecologist, writer, documentary filmmaker Bernhard Grzimek(1907-1986). B. Grzimek wrote about the Serengeti: “Tourists are attracted to Africa only by virgin nature with its wild animals. If the wild fauna disappears here, as happened almost everywhere, then there will be no reason for tourists to come here.” The Serengeti is characterized by huge herds of various ungulates. Wildebeest graze along with zebras, gazelles and giraffes in the vast savannah, and Cairo buffaloes are found in dense thickets. All these animals are characterized by mass movements (migrations) following the front of rains during the year. Predators also roam behind herds of ungulates. The number of ungulates currently within the park is estimated at hundreds of thousands of individuals, there are several thousand elephants, hundreds of lions, hippos, rhinos.

swiss national park

In Europe, the first national park was created in the canton of Graubünden. It bears the name Swiss national park. The park was founded on August 1, 1914 on an area of ​​172.4 km2. It includes the territory of the Alps at an altitude between 1400-3174 m above sea level on the border with Austria and Italy. The park is famous for its unique and diverse flora and fauna, as well as nature completely untouched by man. The predominant landscapes are mountainous coniferous forests and alpine meadows. Roe deer and chamois live here, less often - alpine mountain goat and fox; there are also deer, marmots, ptarmigan, capercaillie and several species of birds of prey.

Corbett

Corbett- the oldest national park India, it was founded during the British colonial rule in 1935 and occupies about 52 thousand hectares in the valley of the Ramganta River, flowing from the southern slopes Himalayas. The hilly plain of the park (altitude from 400 to 900 m) is covered with forests. During the wet monsoon, vast reservoirs often form in the valley, overgrown with aquatic vegetation. This is the habitat of the giant gharial, or swamp crocodile. The crocodile family lives on Earth for about 150 million years. For many years, these reptiles were actively exterminated in order to obtain valuable skin. Now crocodiles are bred for industrial needs in special nurseries, and in nature they are almost universally protected.

The main object of protection in the national park - tiger. The number of tigers in India in the 1930s-1950s. sharply reduced due to uncontrolled shooting by both colonizers and local poachers. Back in the 1960s. The government of India launched a large-scale operation "Tiger", aimed at preserving and restoring the number of this animal. The main events were held just in Korbstt Park. Now the number of tigers is close to optimal.

The park is also home to several species of Asian deer, a sloth bear, and more than 400 species of birds. For a long time, the park was little visited by tourists due to the difficult transport accessibility.

In the late 1970s A modern highway has been laid from the capital of India, Delhi, and the park is visited by thousands of tourists from around the world.

Central Kalahari Reserve

In the desert zone, we will call the Central Kalahari Reserve in South Africa. It was founded in 1957. Its area is 5 million hectares. Unlike national parks, which can be visited by tourists, only scientists are allowed to stay in the reserves. In the Central Kalahari Reserve, local tribes of Bushmen live, who lead their traditional economy. The main object of protection in the reserve is unique plant- velvichia.

Velvichia has a thick tree trunk 30 cm long and looks like a giant flower with huge petals, which are actually the leaves of this plant. In the hot desert, where water is life, velvichia absorbs moisture from the air with its huge leaves, collects dew, “drinks” fog.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park was created in USA in 1890, has an area of ​​​​more than 300 thousand hectares, located on western slopes mountains Sierra Nevada. Mountain peaks rise here by almost 4 thousand meters. There are many waterfalls on mountain rivers. With an abundance of precipitation, ancient dark coniferous forests consist of many species of spruce, pine, and fir. More than 250 species of typical taiga mammals and birds are represented. But the main glory of the national park was brought by the preserved areas of the giant sequoia. Individual trees of this species, which are several thousand years old, reach a height of 150 m with a trunk diameter of 10 m. Sequoia wood is reddish in color, very light, but at the same time hard, durable, and slightly susceptible to decay. It is believed that in the Tertiary period, the sequoia was widespread throughout the Earth, but now, after many years of predatory extermination, areas of virgin forests are very rare and strictly protected. In botanical gardens, it is found almost all over the world.

Banff and Jasper

On South Canadian Rockies there are two large national parks banff And Jasper. Banff Park, with an area of ​​​​about 700 thousand hectares, was created in 1885. To the north of it begins Jasper Park (area of ​​\u200b\u200bmore than 1 million hectares), founded in 1907. The height of the Rocky Mountains within the parks reaches 3700 m. mountain taiga. Glaciers, snowfields, frequent waterfalls and hot springs (began to be used for bathing in the 19th century) are found in the strongly dissected Skatisty mountains.

The coniferous forests are dominated by mountain spruce, maritime pine, Douglas fir (up to 45 m high). Of the large animals of the mountain forests, deer, black bears, black-tailed deer, mountain sheep, and many birds are common.

One of the most unusual animals of the Rocky Mountains is the bighorn goat, found only here. This is an animal with a thick long white six, similar to a domestic goat. Lives in the alpine zone, rarely descending into the forests. Well adapted to life in the mountains, capable of jumping 6-7 m on barely noticeable mountain ledges. The animal is very rare, now work is underway to increase its number, in the future - domestication. Both national parks are biosphere reserves and successfully combine wildlife protection with tourism.

Virunga

Almost in the very center of Africa, right on the equator, is located Virunga National Park. It was established in 1915, covers an area of ​​more than 20 thousand hectares and is located in the northwest of a small African stateRwanda, on the southern slopes volcanic mountainsVirunga. Several cones rise in the park extinct volcanoes height up to 4500 m. Virunga is located just south of the equator, and its landscapes are dominated by humid equatorial and mountain forests and shrubs. The main object of protection is the mountain gorilla - the largest anthropoid ape.

Blue Mountains Park

Northwest of Sydney, on a mountain plateau, dissected deep gorges, one of the largest national parks in the southeastern Australia - Blue Mountains National Park("Blue Mountains") with an area of ​​200 thousand hectares. It was created in 1959. The Blue Mountains are part of the Great Dividing Range, greatest heights here they do not exceed 1200 m. In some places, tower-shaped columnar sandstone remnants have been preserved; waterfalls are not uncommon on small rivers. Along the river valleys there are dense forests of blue eucalyptus, acacia, mint, and tree ferns.

Platypuses, possums, giant gray kangaroos are preserved here, among the birds - Wong's dove, lyrebird, fantails, yellow flycatcher. It should be noted that the flora and fauna of Australia is not rich, but very peculiar: 9/10 of the flora and fauna of the mainland cannot be found in any other area. the globe. It is this uniqueness that is of great interest to scientists and requires the most stringent protection measures. The Blue Mountains Park managed to do it. There are many places left inaccessible, completely untouched, where no tourist has ever set foot.

rancho grande

rancho grande- the first national park Venezuela- was established in 1937. It covers an area of ​​​​about 90 thousand hectares on the spurs of the Venezuelan Andes facing caribbean, absolute heights- up to 2500 m. Here, altitudinal zonation is well represented with an abundance of various rainforest. High humidity (about 1700 mm of precipitation per year) determines the richness of the fauna, especially dwarf palms, orchids, ferns, lianas. The national park is famous for its rare birds: more than 30 species of hummingbirds (the weight of the largest individuals of these tiny birds does not exceed 5 g), parrots, guajaro (a rare bird of the nightjar family, usually nest in deep caves numerous colonies, active at night). The largest venomous snake on Earth is found here - a giant rattlesnake, reaching 3.5 m in length. Among mammals, peccaries, sloths, capuchin monkeys (so named for the black crest on their head), raccoons, jaguars are common.

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands located directly on the equator pacific ocean, west of South America and belong to the state Ecuador. All islands with a total area of ​​approx. 10 thousand hectares were declared a national park in 1934. The archipelago has about 15 volcanic islands, of which five are large, the highest points of which rise to a height of 1700 m. Volcanic activity continues to this day. The islands are washed by a cold current, and the water and air temperature here is relatively low for the equator + 21 ... + 25 ° С. Vegetation is poor: mainly cacti and thorny shrubs. Nevertheless, the Galapagos are extremely interesting for science, it was here that he began to conduct his research. Charles Darwin in 1835

There are many amazing animals on the islands: penguins, which came here from Antarctica thanks to the cold current; flightless cormorants, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lion.

Galapagos tortoises - huge animals with a shell length of up to 1.5 m and a mass of 200 kg - were predatoryly exterminated by humans because of their tasty and nutritious meat. Now turtles are taken under protection, their number is increasing.

The marine iguana is the only species of lizard whose entire life is connected with a narrow coastal zone shallow water and a strip of coast. This large reptile, up to 1.5 m long, is an excellent swimmer, feeds on algae and more.

The Galapagos National Park has a strict regime: it is forbidden for tourists to visit the islands, any economic activity, the import of alien plants and animals. Since 1964, the International Biological Station has been operating here. Thus, the Galapagos Islands are more correctly considered a biosphere reserve.

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 were created each 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, for the purpose of protection environment human activities are limited.

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 the east coast of the 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, enveloping the coast and the forest, large trees are hiding, as well as a 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 create a transboundary biosphere reserve in the 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”

real heavenly corners of our planet - national parks, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, protected and protected by man - this is an integral part of the wealth natural world. Striking with their relief beauty, they have a large range of plants and animals living in their own territory. Huge squares with picturesque landscapes are open to tourists and travelers who wish to leave in their memory positive emotions and impressions from visiting these amazing places. The most beautiful national parks in the world presented later in the article.

1. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park(Yosemite) is a nature reserve with an area of ​​3081 km², located on the western Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, USA. The wide and abundant composition of natural attractions, as well as a large number of hiking trails and routes, make it the second most visited park in the country.

Mighty granite rocks, vast valleys and meadows are combined with fast rivers and blue lakes. Gorgeous waterfalls, dense groves and forests are an ideal find for lovers natural beauties. More than 250 species of vertebrates live in the park, the most famous of them are: baribal bear, gray fox, black-tailed deer, red lynx. Among the vegetation, coniferous trees predominate in large numbers: fir, sequoia, various pine families.

The most soulful and fabulous view of Yosemite Park attracts tourists on winter days, when frozen rivers and waterfalls, along with snowy mountain ranges and forests give an unforgettable feeling of delight and tranquility.

IN US state Arizona is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Since 1979 it has been a center of beauty, peace and scenic grandeur. Asymmetrical forms of naked ancients rocks The parks are one of the clearest examples of soil erosion. The area of ​​the Grand Canyon is 4927 km².

The nature of the park is quite diverse, it includes forests and stone peaks of cliffs, overgrown with small shrubs. Single leaf pine, Utah juniper, and mountain oak are the dominant trees. The warm, sunny spots of the canyon are home to desert plants such as bananas, yuccas, and cacti. Adapted to favorable living conditions, many species of animals have a wide composition characteristic of the area. The most common mammals are black-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, lynxes, coyotes, beavers, ground squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and bats.

With its dividing Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is unrivaled for its panoramic views, impressive rock formations, and unique landscapes. The rocks consist of a strata of rocks of different ages, are perfectly preserved and clearly stand out in the walls of the canyon.

3. Banff Park

The very first and oldest national park in Canada is the reserve banff, having an area of ​​​​6641 km² and founded in 1885 in the province of Alberta.

The park is located on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, which inspire travelers and tourists from all over the world with their mighty snowy peaks. stone rocks, clean Mountain air, waterfalls, dense coniferous forests with crystal-clear lakes Louise, Pate, Bow and Moraine truly beckon with their beauty and grandeur. In some places there are several hot springs with mineral water used by visitors for preventive and therapeutic procedures.

For wild animals such as bears, wolverines, goats and chipmunks, forest and Mountain landscape became a permanent habitat. The flora is represented mainly by evergreen trees and shrubs.

The city of Banff itself receives a huge number of fans every year. active rest and extreme sports. The Rocky Mountains are literally dotted with trails, slopes and roads for snowboarders, skiers, quads, sleds and snowmobiles.

4. Los Glaciares Park

Beautiful in Argentina Los Glaciares National Park known for its eternal ice blocks and massifs, occupying almost a third of the entire territory. The park has existed since 1937, was founded in the province of Santa Cruz and is located along the border with Chile and the southern part of the mountain range from Argentina.

The picturesque and harsh ice region covers an area of ​​4459 km² with complex relief cliffs up to 3.5 km. The name of the park comes from the huge ice cap, which is represented by 47 glaciers sliding from the Andes mountains to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Glacial margins usually end in small and large lakes.

The vegetation of Los Glaciares is represented by a variety of herbs, shrubs and trees that have the ability to tolerate quite low temperatures. The largest population among animals is represented by herbivorous species: llama, Andean deer, guanaco, chinchillas. The mountain cougar is considered the main predator here.

Tourists can visit the main sites of the park all year round, such as Mount Fitz Roy, the lakes of Lago Argentino and Viedma, as well as the great Patagonian Ice Sheet.

5. Goreme Park

The top ten most beautiful natural reserves in the world included - a historical and unique place in the Turkish province of Cappadocia, which covers an area of ​​300 km² and is famous for its original landscapes with pointed rock formations resembling stone cones. The Goreme valleys, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions and the influence of natural elements, have amazing and bizarre relief forms. The most famous valleys of Love, Red, Pink and Blue deserve special attention as well as the local shrines of the park. Randomly scattered small rocks and peaks are made of tuff - a material of volcanic rock that can be easily processed.

The collection of churches and monasteries is a Museum under open sky With centuries of history and culture. All religious institutions are accessible to visitors and are comfortable havens for all Christians.

For many years, residents of other countries who fled from state oppression built many caves with winding passages in high tuff hills, which later turned into a real city. Small villages and cave structures with their ancient past attract tourists from all over the world.

6. Namib Naukluft Park

Namib Naukluft National Park- the fourth largest nature reserve in the world, located in the heart of the African Namib Desert. The territory of the park is about 50,000 km², located between the central high plateau and a vast plain.

Landscape design is represented by Naukluft granite rocks with sparse vegetation, gypsum and quartz plains, as well as sand dunes and shallow canyons.

Due to the hot climate and lack of rain, which can last for several decades, the plant world has a small population. However, some endemic species, such as the Welwitschia tree, have adapted well to the dry terrain. Among animals, the most popular are large mammals: elephants, lions, rhinos and ungulates. Reptiles, birds and insects also predominate in large numbers.

The main attractions of the park are: the Sossusvlei clay plateau, the Sesrim Canyon, the Welwitschia Plains and the Dead Valley with the skeletons of dried trees. The desert region of Namib-Naukluft attracts little tourists, as difficult and long routes are combined with lifeless places and adverse conditions.

7. Swiss National Park

The most beautiful nature reserves are swiss national park. It was founded on August 1, 1914 in the canton of Grisons, is a protected site with strict rules for visiting tourists. It covers an area of ​​172.4 km², which is located at an altitude of 1400 to 3175 meters above sea level. The only nature reserve in Switzerland and the first park in Central Europe is located in the foothills of the Alps and the Engadine valley.

Wide alpine meadows, snowy peaks, clear lakes And pine forests lure connoisseurs of nature from all over the world with their splendor. There are 21 hiking trails in the reserve up to about 80 km long each. Tourist routes give the opportunity to see many species of various animals and a rich flora. Among mammals there are brown bears, mountain goats, lynx, martens, marmots. The fauna is represented by deciduous and evergreen forests, wild flowers and herbs, which have favorable conditions for life in the alpine area.

Visiting the park at any time of the year is wonderful in its own way, and walking in the fresh mountain air gives an unforgettable dose of positive for any visitor.

8. Torres del Paine Park

Known for its spectacular landscapes, forests, rocky peaks and a scattering of waterways, the most beautiful Torres del Paine National Park deserves the attention of every traveler who comes to southern Patagonia. Located on the mountain ranges of Torres del Paine and Cuernos del Paine, the park occupies 2420 km² of territory in southern Chile and is a biosphere reserve.

Granite snow-capped cliffs, as part of the sprawling Andes range, are dotted with glaciers, waterfalls, fast-flowing rivers and lakes with iridescent color hues from bright sunlight. Most unique objects The park is Glacier Gray Glacier, Mountain Horns, French Valley and Tower Mountains.

Amazing landscapes with stone deserts, grassy tundras and plains, as well as an extensive composition of flora and fauna, give a combination of perfect beauty and harmony.

Among the wild animals in the reserve, the most common are cougars, skunks, foxes, guanacos and the Chilean deer, which is depicted on the coat of arms of the country. The park is home to many birds, including birds of prey: hawks, condors, owls.

The vegetation here, as an adornment of any area, is represented by numerous mosses, shrubs, evergreen trees and colorful flowers and herbs.

For tourists, excellent conditions have been created for a wonderful pastime in the reserve. Convenient routes and small wooden houses for rest provide comfort and coziness during long trips through the park.

9. Jasper Park

Picturesque jasper national park, founded in 1907, is located in the Canadian province of Alberta. Occupying total area more than 10,878 km², the park combines the mountain landscapes of the Main and Front Ranges, as well as the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Main natural resources the park are snow-capped mountains, river valleys, glaciers, noisy waterfalls, clear lakes and meadows. A glacier and a waterfall collectively called Athabasca together complete a colorful picture among the main attractions of the park.

Favorable climatic conditions in the Jasper Reserve, they created a permanent habitat for a large composition of the animal and plant world. Extensive forests have varieties of evergreen trees quite common for these places, such as larch, yellow and Weymouth pines, Engelman and Douglas spruce, juniper.

Among animals, grizzly bears, wolves, elks, beavers, wolverines, deer, Canada lynxes have the largest population.

Biggest natural object Canada pleases its visitors with the opportunity to organize various activities - fishing, sports games, extreme sports, hiking and horseback riding, cycling and canoeing, rafting, as well as many other recreational options depending on the choice of visiting guests.

10. Zhangjiajie Park

Zhangjiajie is one of the most beautiful national parks in China. It is located in the picturesque area of ​​Wulingyuan and is the first national forest reserve in China, founded in 1982. The park has become world famous for its landscapes with lush subtropical forests, clear mountain streams, caves and more than 3,000 quartzite rocks resembling high stone pillars up to 200 m high.

The area of ​​Zhangjiajie is about 479.15 km². Due to the humid climate and vegetation, the quartzite rocks scattered throughout the park are the result of centuries of erosion.

Difficult topography, deep ravines, as well as heavy rains and dense forests, provide an excellent habitat for animals and plants. The park has 116 species of vertebrates, about 720 species of plants and trees, as well as 30 rare endemic representatives of flora and fauna.

In the mountain ranges there are more than a hundred large and small karst caves. For tourists, comfortable walking paths are laid here, as well as glass bridge on Tianmen Mountain at an altitude of 1430 m. The park has unique natural attractions, such as Tianzi Mountain and Heaven's Gate, Suosi Valley, Golden Whip Stream and Yellow Dragon Cave.

One of the best ways to observe living beings in their natural environment habitats, without trying to manipulate them or control their activities, is the creation of national parks. I bring to your attention the ten largest and most beautiful national parks in the world.

Rangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Area: 53,321 km²

Rangell St. Elias National Park is located in southern Alaska. This is the largest national park in the USA. The park is an object world heritage UNESCO and is part of the international biosphere reserve. Located in the park, Mount St. Elias is the second highest peak in Canada and the United States.

Air and Tenere National Reserve

Area: 77,360 km²

This protected area, located on the territory of the state of Niger, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The reserve can be conditionally divided into two halves. The eastern part of it is located in the Air Mountains, and the western part enters the desert region in the south of the central part of the Sahara - in the sandy plain of Tenere.

Limpopo Transboundary Park

Area: 99,800 km²

This reserve covers areas in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe and consists of 10 national parks and reserves, including Banine National Park and Kruger National Park. African elephants, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and many other animals live on the lands of the park.

Galapagos Marine Reserve

Area: 133,000 km²

The Galapagos Nature Reserve is the largest marine reserve among developing countries. The area is home to a variety of marine life including sharks, whales, turtles and rays. It was here that Charles Darwin conducted his research, which served as the basis for the creation of his evolutionary theory of the origin of species.

Big barrier reef national park

Area: 345,400 km²

The Great Barrier Reef National Marine Park is located on northeast coast Australia, in the Coral Sea. It was created to protect against the destruction of the largest accumulation of corals in the world, located here, and to protect exotic marine species animals.

National maritime monument papahanumokuakea

Area: 360,000 km²

The reserve with the unpronounceable name Papahanaumokuakea is located on the territory Hawaiian archipelago and unites ten atolls and islets that make up its composition. The reserve is home to 7,000 various kinds, including for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

Phoenix Islands Conservation Area

Area: 408,250 km²

The Phoenix Islands Reserve is the largest and deepest marine reserve in the Pacific Ocean. It is located on the territory of the Republic of Kiribati, located on the islands of Micronesia and Polynesia. Rumor has it that the first female aviator, Amelia Earhart, crashed here on one of the islands during her round-the-world flight in 1937.

transboundary nature reserve Okawongo-Zambezi

Area: 444,000 km²

The protected area covers lands in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe on the African continent. This reserve includes several national parks, including Chobe National Park, Hwanga, the Okawongo Delta and Victoria Falls. The transboundary reserve was created to encourage tourism, as well as for the free migration of animals across borders.

Chagos Naval Reserve

Area: 545,000 km²

The Chagos Archipelago, owned by the UK, is located 500 kilometers from the Maldives. It is the largest marine reserve in the world, its area exceeding the size of a country like France. One of the richest marine ecosystems is observed on the territory of the reserve. Here you can meet many amazing and rare animals.

Northeast Greenland National Park

Area: 972,000 km²

This reserve covers the entire northeastern part of Greenland and is the largest national park in the world. In terms of its area, it is more than 163 countries of the world (individually). Polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, snowy owls, musk oxen and many other species have found shelter in it. Greenland National Park is also the northernmost national park in the world.