Are there many national parks around the world. Komodo National Park in Indonesia. Iguazu National Park, Argentina and Brazil

Bali Barat is a national park in the northwest of the island of Bali, which received the status of a nature reserve in 1917. In 1941 it became an Indonesian national park.

On an area of ​​760 sq. km stretched tropical forests, jungles, dry savannahs, mangrove swamps, as well as acacia thickets and alpine forests. In the north of the park is the protruding Prapat Agung peninsula. It is surrounded by protected beaches and coral reefs, as well as a small offshore island Menjangan - popular destination for diving. There are several in the east extinct volcanoes. The highest of them are the mountains Patas (1,412 meters) and Merbuk (1,388 meters).

One hundred and sixty bird species have been recorded in the park, including the critically endangered Balinese starling. First of all, it was for him that the park was created. In 2001 there were only six individuals of this bird left in the world, and all of them were in this park.

The fauna is represented by deer, black monkeys, flying foxes, wild boars, macaques, squirrels, snakes, reef herons, black Indian cuckoos, etc.

90 percent of the territory is closed to the public, and only a few routes are accessible to tourists accompanied by official guides.

Most popular route, running along tropical jungle- Climbing Mount Gunung Klatakan. In addition to the amazing smell emanating from the many orchids, black monkeys, a hornbill and even flying foxes will decorate the path.

Equally popular are water routes that run along Gilimanuk Bay through the mangrove forests that line the coast. Here you can see a few graceful dark gray Pacific reef herons.

By the end of the 19th century, people began to understand that if they did not protect the environment, but only exploited it mercilessly, then in a fairly short time they would manage to destroy many species of flora and fauna. Some of that hard work has already been done. In addition, our beautiful and diverse planet may forever lose its unique natural formations. For this reason, reserves and national parks of the world appeared. Each state that has national parks strives to preserve their natural splendor and diversity. At the same time, in different countries the forms of national parks may vary, but they are all dedicated to the general idea of ​​preserving nature for future generations who could be proud of their country. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are now 6,555 national parks in the world.

1. Greenland National Park

The world's largest national park (972,000 sq. km) is also the northernmost. Its area exceeds the area of ​​163 countries of the world! It was founded in 1974. Other than the national park staff, there are no other residents here. About 10 thousand musk oxen also live here, which is 40% of all these animals left in the world. Other inhabitants of the park are reindeer, polar bears, walruses, arctic hare and stoats. Sparse vegetation is represented here by mosses and lichens, and only in some places you can see dwarf willows and birches.

2. Kruger (South Africa)

In the national park. Kruger represents typical South African wildlife. It is not only very popular among foreign travelers reserve, but also a profitable business that brings considerable income. Founded this oldest in South Africa national park, included in the heritage of UNESCO, back in 1898 in the north-east of the country. Its area is 19,000 sq. km, and from end to end the distance is 340 km. It consists of three parts located in the valleys of the Olifants and Sabi rivers. A curious kind of "unarmed" African safari is practiced in this reserve. In a huge national park, most of the animals are grouped in its central part. Among them: elephants, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, white rhinos, leopards, 17 species of antelopes and over 400 species of birds.

It is difficult to scare a Russian person with anything, especially bad roads. Even safe tracks take thousands of lives a year, let alone those a...

3. Serengeti (Tanzania)

national park The Serengeti is one of the largest (15,000 sq. km) and most famous on the planet, it has an almost complete ecosystem. This oldest reserve in Africa appeared in 1929. Almost 500 species of birds and 3 million of the largest mammals live on its territory. Every year there are spectacular migrations of millions of herds of wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, these living rivers cover a distance of more than 3000 km. The migration of zebras and wildebeests is explained by the fact that a drought begins in the north of the park, burning grass, and in search of food, herbivorous ungulates rush to the cooler and more humid south. On the contrary, when the rainy season begins, the herds return to the north and west.
The Serengeti is also proud of its largest lion population in Africa. Among its inhabitants, mention should be made of elephants, hyenas, gazelles, rhinos and hippos. In the Maasai language, the name of the park means "endless plains" - and in fact, the vast savannah mainly extends here.

4. Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Located in the northwestern United States, Yellowstone National Park is very famous in the world, especially in last years. It includes the territories of several states at once: Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The national park was founded here in 1872, because there are a huge number of geysers and thermal springs. large alpine lake Yellowstone is located in the crater of America's largest supervolcano. A very long time ago this volcano erupted, so the surrounding areas are covered with ancient lava.
Two-thirds of all geysers in the world are concentrated in Yellowstone - almost 3000, among them the largest in the world - "Steamboat". Very famous for its regular eruptions is the geyser "Old Faithful", which ejects boiling water to a height of 40 meters at intervals of 45-125 minutes. Only five geyser fields are known in the world, located in Yellowstone, Kamchatka, Chile, Iceland and New Zealand. Yellowstone is densely stuffed with a variety of thermal springs, of which there are about 10,000 (that is, half of those available in the world), are here mud volcanoes and sources of hydrogen sulfide.
Hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and about 2,000 species of vegetation live in the national park.

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5. Snowdonia (UK)

This national park is located in North Wales. This is one of the first reserves in England and Wales, it was created 60 years ago. They named it after the high peak Wales - Mount Snowdon, which has a height of 1085 m. The territory of the Snowdonia National Park lies not only on public, but also on private lands. 26,000 people live within it, and the number of tourists visiting it per year reaches 6 million. For them, 2381 km of open hiking trails have been laid in the park, there are also 264 km of trails for horseback and hiking travelers and 74 km of other routes. So, those who wish can climb to the top of Snowdon by funicular or along a picturesque hiking trail, which has a length of 13 km. There are also old railway lines in the park.

6. Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

The term "Plitvice Lakes" was first mentioned in documents from 1777. In 1949, this place became a national park, and 30 years later UNESCO added it to its heritage list. On its territory there are 16 large karst lakes, 20 caves and 140 waterfalls. This place is unique in that new waterfalls appear here every year and in general the landscape is constantly changing. The water in the lakes here has an amazingly beautiful azure color, so the photographs here are unusually spectacular. Along hiking trails 18 kilometers long, along the banks of the lakes, wooden decks are arranged, from which it is convenient to observe the surrounding beauty and photograph it.
Several hiking trails are laid across the park, the journey along which can take both a couple of hours and 8 hours. There is a boat plying the lakes, and you can look at the mountains from an electric train with special cars adapted for better view. But in local lakes it is forbidden to swim, bring dogs here, and have picnics with fires. The Plitvice Lakes are also famous for their unique coniferous and beech forests that have been growing here for many centuries and are able to recover.

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7. Fiordland (New Zealand)

This is the name of the largest national park in New Zealand, which occupies most of its southwestern highlands on the South Island. Here are the deepest lakes of the country and rather high and picturesque mountains, reaching 2746 m. ​​And now Fiordland remains a remote area. There are many beauties here: swift rivers with waterfalls, picturesque fjords, rich and peculiar animals and vegetable world. The local dense forests are home to beautiful birds such as cockatoo parrots. In local waters Pacific Ocean you can meet penguins or bottlenose dolphin.
The famous British writer Rudyard Kipling glorified the local bay of Milford Sound, calling it "the eighth wonder of the world." Throughout its 18-kilometer length, the bay is framed high peaks mountains This place is one of the wettest on the planet - it rains here every two days out of three.

8. Kavango-Zambezi Transboundary Reserve

This reserve is unique in many ways. Spread over a vast territory of 444,000 sq. km, it captures the territories of five countries at once: Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. There are no borders on the territory of the reserve itself, so animals can move freely throughout its territory. This largest African reserve includes a number of parks of individual states, for example, the Okavango Delta and Chobe.
In addition to the rich wildlife, the territory of this reserve is home to world-famous attractions, such as the luxurious Victoria Falls. A transboundary reserve appeared recently - in 2011. The most important task of the five states that organized it was to provide opportunities for free migration for animals. But it also became very important and profitable. tourist attraction, because literally every day in one place or another of the endless reserve a new tourist group. First of all, travelers are attracted here by African elephants, which are home to almost half of all savannah elephants living in Africa. Over 600 species of flora, including unique ones, also grow on the lands of the reserve, and 300 species of birds can be seen in the sky above the luxurious landscapes.

You can look at the flowing water endlessly. And if the water falls from high altitude, even more so. Fortunately, nature spoils us with such chic ...

9. Papahanaumokuakea Marine Reserve (USA)

This reserve is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in Hawaiian archipelago, including a group of its small islets and atolls. It has an area of ​​approximately 360,000 sq. km, making it the world's largest protected marine reserve. The Papahanaumokuakea Nature Reserve was founded recently - in 2006. There are exotic animals and plants on its islands, but not only these living objects living on land are valuable, but also luxurious coral reefs hidden under a layer of water, forming a unique system.
This name of the reserve did not appear immediately, but only a year after its formation - this is how they decided to mark the married couple of the patrons of nature - the local gods Wakea and Papahanaumoku. For the indigenous people of Hawaii, these places have been sacred since ancient times, according to their beliefs, the souls of their dead relatives went here.
Archaeologists have explored these islands and found that some of them were inhabited by humans in prehistoric times. For example, on the islands of Nihoa and Makumanamana, the remains of ancient settlements have been preserved, in which people who were engaged in agriculture lived. Within Papahanumokuakea was a tenth of the tropical shallow coral reefs belonging to the United States.

10. Limpopo Transfrontier Park

This park also occupies the territories of several African countries - South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Its area on this moment is about 37,000 sq. km, 10 different zones are distinguished on it. To date, the final boundary of the reserve has not yet been established, especially since its expansion is to be almost three times. This transboundary park appeared only in 2000, and a year later the first animals appeared in it. Now elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and other African animals already live there.

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)

Considering that the national park covers the entire northern part of 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 the most 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: the eastern part on the Air plateau, and the western part 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 a constantly changing face.

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)

The protected area of ​​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. In addition to standard jeep tours, there are canoe tours, walking tours, and various events and festivals are held for guests.

There are so many on earth beautiful places where you really want and need to visit at least once! National parks can be called the pinnacle of the joint creativity of God and man: nature has created - but people have not spoiled and continue to protect these incredible beauty corners of the planet.

Of the hundreds of beautiful nature reserves of the world to choose the most-most, perhaps, it is impossible. But we tried, took a chance - and in 2013 Holiday M presents 13 the most picturesque National Parks of the planet!

13. Tikal National Park national park), Guatemala

Tikal- the strongest Mayan city in Guatemala and one of the most mystical and mysterious places earth.

Name Tikal in the Mayan language means "a place where the voices of spirits are heard." Indeed, to this day in one of the largest settlements Mayan, the capital of the Mutul kingdom, to this day the voices of the inhabitants who left the city at the end of the 10th century are heard.

The park is hidden deep in the jungle from prying eyes. The fantastic ruins of a Mayan settlement, which date back to around 250 - 900 AD, are full of unique architecture: ritual sites, temples, palaces, castles and various wild animals. By the way, it was the ruins of Tikal Park that were used as a backdrop, as the base of the rebels in Hollywood Star Wars.

12. Zhangjiajie National Park and Huanglong Yellow Dragon Cave (Yellow Dragon Scenic Area), China

Zhangjiajie- the oldest of the national parks in China and, perhaps, the most remarkable. Opened in 1982, ten years later it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Yellow Dragon Conservation Area is located in the northwest of Sichuan in the highlands. Huanglong Scenic Area is an ecosystem with waterfalls, hot springs, mountain gorges, blue lakes, virgin forests and snow on the hilltops.

The protected area is famous for its high mountain ranges and unique caves. One of the most beautiful of them - Unique Huanglong Cave (Yellow Dragon Cave) in the Soshiiu Nature Reserve. A four-tiered cave 15 km long. included a lake, two rivers, 13 halls and about 96 galleries cluttered with stalactites and stalagmites of striking shapes and sizes. So one of them, with a diameter of 10 cm, reaches 19.2 m in height!

11. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Nothing compares to the splendor wildlife Africa, and is a vivid confirmation of this.

In 1884, Transvaal President Paul Kruger took the initiative to create a conservation area in the lowveld. And on May 31, 1926, on the basis of the Sabi and Shingwedzi hunting reserves, the Kruger Park was created, which became the first national park in South Africa. Hardly any other national park compares to Kruger Park for its pristine countryside, wildlife and vastness.

The Kruger National Park provides the best safari in the world. In one place you can see the largest mammals, a large number of birds and large predators.

The park is considered the most profitable national park in the world with about 1 million tourists visiting it every year.

As part of the Kruger to the Canyons Biosphere Reserve, formed in 2001, it is included in.

10. Lake Manyara National Park (Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

In the Great Rift Valley, in northern Tanzania, at an altitude of 950 m above sea level, around an unusually beautiful lakes Manyara, in the heart of the green forest, between the rocks is located National a park Manyara.

The park is located on northern Tanzania, an hour and a half drive west of Arusha.

Manyara Lake Reserve- picturesque gemstone in setting UNESCO: in 1981 the park was included in the worldwide network of biosphere reserves.

Despite the fact that Switzerland is known for its magical Alps, it has only one national park to offer tourists. But what!

It is located in the east of Switzerland, in the region of the Engadine valley, including the vast territory of the Alps.

The park is considered one of the oldest in Central Europe - it was created in 1914. In 1979 it was included in the list of biosphere reserves. UNESCO along with the adjacent Italian national park Stelvio.

The history of the park is interesting and instructive. By 1909, in the course of "industrialization", the resources of this forest and mineral rich territory were completely destroyed by man. Then, in 1914, it was decided to ban economic activity on this territory and trace the ability of nature to self-healing and no nature restoration activities were carried out in the park. However, now it is one of the most beautiful reserves in the world, which is visited by about 150 thousand people a year.

Mountain rivers, snowy peaks, picturesque valleys, rich flora and fauna beckon tourists to enjoy the beauties of alpine nature at its best...

8. Kakadu National Park, Australia

The uniqueness of this Australian natural wonder give the rocks and ledges surrounding it from all sides, protecting the park itself from the outside world and the outside world from it. In addition, since 1981, the park has also been under protection. UNESCO.

National Kakdu park is in Northern Territory Australia. He did not get his name in honor of everyone's favorite crested parrot. It is named after the Kakadu Aboriginal tribe that lives here to this day. In addition to an abundance of plants, insects, reptiles, birds, animals and fish, Kakadu National Park also has two caves, the walls of which are decorated with ancient rock art, dated around the 16th millennium BC.

snowdonia national park was established in 1951 and became one of the first three national parks of England and Wales. In just over 60 years, Snowdonia has earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful national parks in the world!

6. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park,Australia

Not far from Uluru is the rocky formation of Kata Tjuta (which means "many heads"). And together they are one of the most beautiful National Parks in the world, the symbol and heart of Australia.

In 1987 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was included in list world heritage UNESCO. In 1995 he received Picasso's gold medal - the highest award of UNESCO,for the preservation of the nature and culture of the Anangu aborigines. Today, many of them work in the park as guides and tour guides for tourist groups.

5. Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, Peru

The secrets of the mystical Inca Empire excite the minds of historians, explorers and adventurers from all over the world. Machu-Picchu, especially after receiving the status UNESCO World Heritage became a center of mass tourism - per day this ancient city is visited by 2000 tourists!

Machu Picchu is sometimes referred to as "the city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", but more commonly as the "lost city of the Incas". The majestic Machu Picchu is located in hard-to-reach places mountainous areas Peru: 2430 m above sea level, in the middle of the rainforest. To support tourism, a railway was built from Cusco to the nearby city of Aguas Calientes. Through Ollantaytambo, along the most picturesque route, there are more than ten trains a day.

More about one of the New Wonders of the World - historical sanctuary of Machu Picchu, you can find out

(Everglades National Park), Florida, USA

"There are no majestic peaks rushing to the sky, no mighty glaciers or seething streams ... This place has a special serene beauty ... thanks to the richness of the local nature, we can see here the richness of the flora and fauna that distinguishes this corner of nature from all others in our country." - said President Harry Truman at the ceremony in honor of the opening of the park. And in 1979 the organizing committee UNESCO supported his words by adding Everglades to the list objects World heritage.

3. (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park), California, USA

Anza-Borrego is a huge nature reserve, the most large park in the state of California.

during the gold rush of 1849. tens of thousands of gold miners passed through the Anza-Borrego desert. Today, the flowering desert delights visitors with virgin nature, where you can get acquainted with the unique ecology, its steep gorges and barren, eroded, rugged terrain.

Every year, in March-April, thousands of tourists come here to look at the miraculous transformation of a lifeless desert into a blooming paradise.
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2. Iguazu National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Iguazú), South America

National a parkIguazu is located in the ecological region "Atlantic Forests of Parana" and invariably delights tourists with an incredible variety of flora and fauna. But the main task of the park created in 1934 was and remains the preservation of one of the most beautiful places South America- waterfalls on the Iguazu River, surrounded by subtropical jungle.

Iguaçu in the Tupi Guarani language means big water. The park partially contains one of the natural monuments of South America and one of most beautiful waterfalls world - Iguazu Falls.

waterfalls are on the border Argentine and Brazilian national parks « Iguazu". Both parks were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively.

), Arizona, USA

The most grandiose, and, perhaps, one of the most interesting and unique corners of the Earth - USA national parkGrand Canyon.

The park covers an area of ​​about 5 thousand square meters. km. was founded in 1908 to protect a unique natural formation - the gorge of the Colorado River, which is located in its middle course. Grand Canyon- one of the most unusual places on our planet, which represents as many as 4 geological eras of the Earth!

In fact, the Grand Canyon is neither the largest nor the deepest in the world - it is valued primarily for its harmonious combination size, depth, and multicolored layers of exposed rock formed over millions of years of erosion and weathering.

Now it is one of the main tourist destinations in the United States - the grandiose scale of the canyon and its bizarre remnants of the most fantastic forms attract more than 2 million people annually to the Grand Canyon National Park. And of course it is one of the most amazing observation decks of the world !

Walks are especially popular among tourists. over the Grand Canyon by helicopter. During the fascinating three-hour excursion you will fly by helicopter above Grandee-Canyon, enjoying stunning landscapes and wonderful views.

Orangutan rehabilitation center in Borneo - a lesson in humanity for people

Prices for tours to the best National stamps of the world see

First National parks, protecting natural societies, appeared in the 16th century. However, the first National 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. In addition to Yellowstone, there are only four geyser fields in the world - the 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 horse riders and 74 km of other 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 deepest canyons in the world located in the Colorado Plateau. 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 of the 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 settlement in 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 here, high mountains, lakes, forests, many animals and birds live, and even orchids can be found among the flowers.

Tatras, Poland-Slovakia

Two Tatra National Parks - one in Poland, the other in Slovakia - have a common border of 64 km. This is the most high part Carpathians, the length of which is approximately 60 km. These mountains were formed by glaciers, so there are many U-shaped valleys in the Tatras, mountain lakes with incredible clean 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.