Countries in the world that have national parks. The main national parks and reserves of the world that fall under the special criteria of the IUCN - top category. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

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 the most beautiful natural reserves in the world, it is perhaps impossible to choose the most-most. 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 gem framed UNESCO: in 1981 the park was included in worldwide network 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 in this area 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 is given by the rocks and ledges surrounding it on 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 called "the city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", but more often - " lost city Incas. The majestic Machu Picchu is located in hard-to-reach places mountainous areas Peru: at an altitude of 2430 m above sea level, in the center rainforest. To support tourism, a railway was built from Cusco to neighboring city 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 largest 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 in South America - the waterfalls on the Iguazu River, surrounded by subtropical jungle.

Iguaçu in the language of the Tupi Guarani Indians - big water. The park partially contains one of natural monuments South America and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the 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 - US 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 of 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 multicolor layers of nudes rocks 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.

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

The reserve is located in the northeastern part of the Russian Plain. All rivers of the reserve are left tributaries of the Volga, the largest of which are Kostroma and Unzha. Quite extensive areas of the reserve are occupied by swamps and wetlands, which is primarily due to the flat, leveled relief. There are small forest rivers in the reserve and no large lakes and rivers, which causes a significant density of animals whose life is directly connected with water bodies - this is, first of all, the otter, mink, beaver.

The territory of the Katunsky and Altaisky reserves is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List under the name "Golden Mountains of Altai" (1998). Absolute heights Katunsky Reserve fluctuate from 1300 to 3280 m a.s.l. On the territory there are 135 lakes with an area of ​​151,664 hectares or more. In the highlands there are a large number of glaciers, with a total area of ​​283 sq. km.

State nature reserve Shulgan-Tash in Bashkortostan, which has federal status. Situated in the western foothills Southern Urals, in the mountain-forest belt, within the Burzyansky district. total area- 225 sq. km. The rich landscape mosaic also determines the high diversity flora. The relief is low-mountainous. Mixed broad-leaved and coniferous-broad-leaved forests occupy 92 percent of the territory.

The natural architectural and archaeological museum-reserve Divnogorye is located on the territory of Russia, in the Liskinsky district Voronezh region. The area of ​​the museum-reserve is more than 11 km². From a geological point of view, the reserve is a Cretaceous deposit on the surface of the earth. The maximum height of the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Quiet Pine River at the confluence with the Don, which flows at the foot of the plateau, is located at an altitude of 78 m above sea level). Due to a rather significant difference in height between the plateau and the floodplain of the Don and Tikhaya Sosna rivers, its microclimate differs significantly from the surrounding floodplain lowland.

The Kuznetsky Alatau State Reserve is located in the south of Central Siberia, at its highest point - on the western slope of the ridge, at the intersection of Mezhdurechensky, Tisulsky and Novokuznetsky districts of the Kemerovo region. The Kuznetsky Alatau ridge itself extends over almost a third of the Kemerovo region. This ridge is a relief consisting of medium and high mountain ranges dissected by rivers.

The Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve is located in the Khasansky district of Primorsky Krai, between west coast Amur Bay and the border with China, on the spurs of the East Manchurian mountain ranges Sukhorechensky and Gakkelevsky ridges, separating the basin of the Cedar River from the basins of the Barabashevka and Narva rivers flowing near the boundaries of the reserve.

The Lazovsky Reserve is located on the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin, between the rivers Kievka and Chernaya. By size and mode of moisture mainland territory of the Lazovsky Reserve, located northwest of the Zapovedny Ridge. Almost the entire territory of the reserve is divided between two independent drainage basins of the Kievka and Chernaya rivers, which flow into the Sea of ​​Japan. Rest numerous rivers and streams of different size, direction and nature are either tributaries of these rivers, or independently collect water from a narrow coastal strip, the average width of which is about 10 km, and flow directly into the Sea of ​​Japan.

What to photograph: rivers, mountains, relic yew grove. Some of the lakes have unique vegetation and other natural features.

The main part of the territory of the reserve is represented by taiga forests of various types. Fragments of ancient relic steppes have been preserved on the coast of Lake Baikal; 50 species of mammals and about 240 species of birds live. The reserve is also famous for the high number of bears. In addition, here you can meet such rare and interesting birds as the white-tailed eagle, black stork, hook-nosed scoter, ruddy shelduck, gray crane.

What to photograph: the source of the Lena River, Cape Ryty, a section of the coast sacred to local residents with a grandiose gorge, the remains of the oldest volcanoes on Earth - Mountain peaks Baikal Ridge in the area of ​​capes Sredny and Upper Kedrovy. 50 species of mammals, about 240 species of birds. Known for its high population of otters and brown bears.

The national park is located on the territory of Greater Sochi: from the borders with Tuapse district, between the mouths of the Shepsi and Magri rivers in the northwest to the borders with Abkhazia in the southeast and from the Black Sea coast to the watershed line of the Main Caucasian ridge. Most of the territory of the park is occupied by mountains, dissected by river valleys. The foothill zone occupies a narrow strip along the Black Sea. About 40 rivers and streams of the Black Sea basin flow through the park.

What to photograph: diverse landscape, unforgettable views and many exotic animals. A feature is the abundance of rivers and streams that create a huge number of canyons and waterfalls.

The Altai Reserve is located in the mountains of Southern Siberia. This is the land of mountains and swift mountain rivers, the kingdom of giant trees and the country of ancient wild animals. A walk through the mountain-taiga landscapes of the reserve fascinates with its unpredictability. Vertical belts, steppe, forest, subalpine and alpine, replacing each other when climbing the mountains, hide their secrets. Even the forests in the reserve are different. In the north, almost only fir trees grow, to the south - cedars, in the south - deciduous species.

What to photograph: vertices Altai mountains, Teletskoye lake, alpine meadows. Lynxes, bears, wolverines and 323 species of birds also live on the territory.

UK national parks

Brecon Beacons National Park

The Brecon Beacons is located on a mountain range in South Wales, it occupies a national park of about 1345 square meters. km., in the park is the most high mountain in southern Britain. Brecon Beacons is translated as "Brecon Beacons", the name comes from ancient times, when people signaled to each other about the approach of enemies with the help of fires lit on the tops of the mountains.

What to photograph: The mountains of the park and the moorlands look very breathtaking. In the mountains you will find many waterfalls. The park also houses many ancient monuments and castles.

Norfolk Broads

Broads National Park covers the county of Norfolk and Suffolk. This is a vast, protected wetland area in the UK and is home to some of the UK's rarest plants and animals. This is the third largest park in the UK, which occupies vast expanses of water. The park includes seven main rivers and 63 remains of medieval peat excavations.

What to photograph: the flat terrain makes the Norfolk Broads a very windy place and the countryside is dotted windmills, which are picturesquely located on the edge of the water. The park has small yachts and boats that will take you around the most beautiful areas for a small fee, where you will certainly be inspired by the richness of the wetlands and the variety of birds.

The beautiful expanses of the Dartmoor swamps in Devon cover a huge area of ​​Great Britain. Dartmoor contains the largest concentration of British Bronze Age artefacts, with many ancient stones and other monuments.

What to photograph: beautiful scenery, rocks, granite stones, all this makes the National Park incredibly picturesque place. famous rock Dartmoor Park attracts the attention of photographers from all over the world.

The largest British national park, with an area of ​​4528 km2. On the territory there is a high and massive mountain range, four of the five highest mountains in Scotland are located within the park, there are 55 peaks over 900 m high. In general, the Cairngorms occupies about six percent of Scotland.

What to photograph: massive mountain landscape cross clean rivers with sparkling water. On the territory of the park is the lake Nestle. Vast forests occupy the lower slopes, and ice lies on the peaks most of the time. The park is home to many rare animals, with about 25 percent of endangered species living in the Cairngorms. Here you can meet red squirrel, deer, osprey, snowy owls, red partridge and eagles.

The Lake District, often compared to the sea, the park is located in a mountainous region in the county of Cumbria, in the north-west of England. The entire territory of England with a height of more than three thousand meters above sea level is located on the territory of the National Park, including Scafell, the highest mountain in England. There are also deep and long lakes of England.

What to photograph: You can shoot landscapes and lakes, they are very breathtaking, especially in autumn.

This park in the west of Scotland is located in the district of Loch Lomond, which is the largest reserve fresh water in the UK mainland. On the territory of the park there are 21 peaks, more than 1000 meters high and 19 peaks, more than 2500 meters high, as well as two forest parks - Queen Elizabeth and Argyle.

What to photograph: numerous small lakes, mountains, beautiful woodlands, small clearings animal world. Ben Lomond is one of the most photogenic mountain peaks. On the territory of the national park you can meet deer, squirrel, otter and osprey.

The oldest national park in the UK. It attracts about 10 million visitors a year, thanks in large part to its proximity to the major cities V northern England, making it one of the busiest national parks in the UK. The Peak District is conditionally divided into the northern Dark Peak, where most of the territory is occupied by swamps, and the South Peak, where most of The territory is occupied by limestone rocks.

What to photograph: The hills and cliffs of the park attract the attention of visitors and photographers, there are many valleys, streams, lakes and waterfalls. The Peak District has many interesting objects created during the industrial revolution, artificial fences, roads and the remains of mills will make the photos even more attractive.

US national parks

Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon is one of the iconic places in the United States of America. The Grand Canyon stretches for almost 450 km in length. It was formed as a result of the impact of the Colorado River over thousands of years. The National Park is famous for its picturesque desert landscapes.

Yellowstone, Wyoming

The first national park in the world, famous for its geysers, hot springs burst out of the ground, making a unique impression on the audience. The park is home to many wildlife including grizzly bears and moose.

Rocky Mountain, Montana

On the Canadian border is Rocky Mountain Park, which has about 130 lakes and is home to thousands of plant species and hundreds of animal species.

Everglades, Florida

Everglades Park is a network of wetlands and forests, the park is home to 36 protected animal species, including panthers and American crocodiles.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its unique geological structures that cut the sky with narrow peaks. The structures were formed as a result of weathering and erosion by the flow of sedimentary rocks.

Death Valley, California-Nevada border

Death Valley is the hottest and dry place in North America. Here you will find a harsh desert landscape that, despite everything, attracts many species of animals.

Denali, Alaska

Denali is located around the highest mountain in North America. The landscape of Denali is a mixture of forest, tundra, glaciers and rocks.

This dramatic landscape includes two active volcanoes: Kilauea, one of the most active in the world, and Mauna Loa.

Yosemite, California

Yosemite is famous for its attractive El Capitan and Half Dome cliffs. There are beautiful steep waterfalls and ancient sequoias.

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

The underground park is huge cave, with an area of ​​1220 m, 191 m wide and 78 m high. Photographers here will be amazed by the beautiful limestone cave landscapes.

National parks of Europe

Saxon Switzerland, Germany

The park features extremely beautiful rocky landscapes and canyons. IN Saxon Switzerland ancient coniferous trees grow.

The Swiss National Park is the oldest park in the Alps and provides protection to many rare animals. Mountain goats, marmots and countless varieties of birds live here.

Teide, Tenerife, Spain

The Teide Volcanic Peak is the most visited national park in Spain. It is known for its surreal landscapes and amazing views of the surrounding Canary Islands.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

A series of 16 lakes of different colors amaze the imagination of visitors to the Croatian National Park. The shades of water in the lakes change from crystal green to deep blue.

Vatnajokull, Iceland

Europe's largest glacier is located in Vatnajökull National Park. The glacier occupies about 8% of the entire territory of the country.

Cevennes, France

Cévennes is located in the mountainous region of France. Here you will see picturesque mountain landscapes and gorges. There is a chain of cave systems in the park.

Olympus, Greece

Here is the famous Mount Olympus, the highest mountain and the legendary home of the Greek gods. The park has rich history, culture and ecological diversity.

Abruzzo, Italy

On the territory of the Abruzzo Park there are huge granite peaks and beech forests. Brown bear, wild lynx, wolves and royal eagles live in this mountainous wilderness.

Tatras, Slovakia

The oldest national park in Slovakia covers 741 square kilometers. Pine and other coniferous trees grow here. There are many lakes in the park, and a wide variety of wild animals live here.

The Burren, Ireland

The Burren is the smallest of Ireland's six national parks. The area of ​​the park is only 15 square kilometers, but despite this there is something to see.

National parks of the world

Fiordland, New Zealand

The snow-capped mountain peaks of the national park will inspire any photographer. Most of the plots of the film The Lord of the Rings were filmed here. Dolphins, fur seals and penguins live in the park.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

This park is one of the best places, which are worth visiting in order to see the whole flavor of the African continent. Lions, African elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos live here.

Banff, Canada

It is Canada's oldest National Park and impresses with rich mountain ranges, densely wooded regions, glaciers and ice fields. Banff is home to grizzly bears, moose and bighorn sheep.

Goreme, Turkey

Turkey's National Park inspires photographers all over the world with its surreal landscapes, caves and oddly shaped hills.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The island's wildlife has evolved in isolation over millions of years, resulting in the park being home to unique animals and rare plant species.

Most of the park is occupied by mountains, one of which highest point our planet - the top of Everest. The territory of the park strikes the imagination with rivers, glaciers and beautiful mountain landscapes.

Torres del Paine, Chile

The Torres del Paine National Park is home to the spectacular Andean peaks. Lakes, glaciers and mountain glades are presented to the attention of photographers. Here you can meet guanacos, cougars and rare birds.

Kakadu, Australia

Kakadu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park area is rich spectacular waterfalls, rivers and swamps, it is home to many wild animals, including saltwater crocodiles.

Iguazu, Argentina / Iguazu, Brazil

We are talking about two Iguazu parks at once, one of which is located in Brazil, and the second in Argentina. The hallmark of the parks is a chain of beautiful waterfalls surrounded by jungle. The huge variety of birds living around the Iguazu Falls impresses the attention of visitors.

Serengeti, Tanzania

The Serengeti National Park is famous for the annual wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migration that passes through the park.

Fuji Hakone Izu, Japan

The most popular national park in Japan includes views of the dormant Mount Fuji, located in the center of the park. Fuji Hakone Izu is shrouded in clouds in spring and summer.

Zhangjiajie, China

Unique and inimitable mountain landscapes open to the eyes of visitors to Zhangjiajie Park in China. In the park there are high sandstone pillars that have arisen as a result of long-term erosion caused by ice expansion.

The national park is named after a hunter who gave up his job and began to protect nature in order to save the Bengal tiger. It is the oldest national park in India and is home to Himalayan bears, leopards and elephants.

Canaima, Venezuela

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 more than 160 thousand protected areas in the world. 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 the 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. The region's biological resource includes 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 under the influence of environmental pollution. 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 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.

Nature has created natural corners where peace and complete balance reign. There are many such places on Earth and all of them are beautiful and interesting in their own way. Anyone who can feel this beauty and harmony has the right to consider himself truly happy. It is becoming increasingly difficult to preserve the integrity of nature and leave it untouched. Man and his economic activity disturb this balance. Those corners that have remained untouched are protected and called reserves. The most beautiful nature reserves in the world are presented in this article.

yellowstone nature reserve

This place on Earth can be called one of the most beautiful. The Yellowstone Preserve is located in the United States. For a long time, the existence of such a corner on the planet could not be believed. At that time, the lands were not yet fully explored North America. This reserve includes 3000 geysers of incredible beauty and height. These are two thirds of all sources in the world. There are also about 300 waterfalls, the height of which exceeds 4.5 meters.

The reserve is located among two huge canyons. Here you can find a large number of representatives of flora and fauna. Such parks and reserves of the world are included in the list of natural sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This unique park striking in its beauty. Rivers, ravines, waterfalls, Rocky Mountains, thermal springs- all this together is a magnificent ensemble created by nature. Here is the most big geyser, which bears the name Steamboat. One of the springs, the Old Faithful, is notable for the regularity of its eruptions. The height of the pillar reaches 40 meters. Most beautiful waterfall The Lower Reserve has a height of 94 meters, which is twice as high as Niagara. Most big lake has an area of ​​350 square meters. Its depth exceeds 115 meters.

Karst lakes in Croatia

The natural reserves of the world are places of unusual and amazing beauty. Plitvice is one of the unique corners of the planet created by nature. It consists of a huge woodland with 16 interconnected lakes. The park is located in the karst mountainous region of Croatia. The territory of the reserve is 297 square kilometers. Lakes are located on the Plitvice plateau between two mountains.

Lakes are two groups that are interconnected by runoff. The total area of ​​the lakes is 2 square kilometers. Between the lakes there are dams created by nature. Plants and bacteria accumulate to form barriers. These natural barriers are growing at a rate of 1 centimeter per year. The lakes have an unusual color, from azure to blue. Their color may change depending on the incidence of sunlight and the activity of microorganisms. Like many nature reserves in the world, this park is included in the World Heritage List.

snowdonia

Snowdonia National Park UK is an amazing corner of our planet. On its territory, an area of ​​2 square kilometers, is the highest mountain in Wales - Snowdon. Unique in their beauty places do not leave indifferent any tourist. There are 2381 kilometers of trails in the park. 264 kilometers of them are for foot, horse and cycling. The fauna and flora of the reserve is striking in its diversity. There are very rare birds and animals.

Serengeti National Park

The area is home to the Serengeti National Park. It is located between two attractions: Lake Victoria and Mount Kilimanjaro. All things considered, the Serengeti is the most beautiful pearl in this necklace.

The uniqueness of this park lies in the fact that a large number of animal species are represented here, including unique ones. It is considered a great rarity if a buffalo, a lion, a giraffe, an elephant and a leopard are found on the territory. During the rainy season, herds of hundreds of thousands of zebras and wildebeests gather in the savannas in the east of the park. in search of water and food in such quantities is an unforgettable and majestic sight. The landscape in the park is also varied, from desert lands to green hills and wooded areas. The reserves of Africa are among the most ancient on Earth.

Canadian Park Canada

Canada's Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Everything is here: rocky mountains, eternal glaciers, picturesque landscapes, turbulent rivers with crystal clean water, coniferous forests, mountain lakes, and many representatives of flora and fauna. Nature here is virgin and untouched by man. Therefore, animals here feel free and safe. The park is located in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

This the largest nature reserve American continent. Its area is about 6.6 thousand kilometers. Rocky mountains of various origins alternate with deep valleys that are covered with glacial formations. Here are divided into three climatic zones: forest mountain, alpine and subalpine. In every corner of this park open beautiful landscapes that delight the eye of the tourist. All nature reserves in the world can be called unique in their own way. These are corners untouched by man, in which their own laws and rules reign.

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 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 fauna, 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.

The Taganay National Park is located in one of the most unique corners of the Southern Urals - in the region of the Taganay mountain junction, just 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 a broken 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”