National Parks of the USA

7/31/2019 National Parks of the USA

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MAY 2012

‗‘CALLATIS‘‘ HIGH SCHOOL, MANGALIA

CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE

Coordinator Student

Prof. Oana Gherghisan Larisa Turnea



MAY 2012

‗‘CALLATIS‘‘ HIGH SCHOOL, MANGALIA

CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE

Coordinator Student

Prof. Oana Gherghisan Larisa Turnea



Table of contents

l. Argument…………………………………………………………………….

ll. Introduction…………………………………………………………………

lll. Contents…………………………………………………………………….

1. List of national parks of the United States…………………………….

2. A brief history of U.S. national parks…………………………………

3. The spiritual and cultural significance of national parks……………..

4. Yellowstone National Park – The first national park in the world

4.1. Geography…………………………………………………………

4.2. Flora and fauna……………………………………………………

4.3. Recreation…………………………………………………………

4.4. Cultural heritage…………………………………………………..

4.5. Management constrains……………………………………..........5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park……………………………….

5.1. Geography………………………………………………………..

5.2. Flora and fauna…………………………………………………...

5.3. Recreation……………………………………………………….

lV. Conclusion……………………………………………………………

V. Bibliography…………………………………………………………..

Vl. Annexes………………………………………………………………



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l. ARGUMENT

The reason why I chose the theme ―National Parks in the U.S.A.‖ is , mainly, the fact thatI have always been attracted to the idea of nature, wildness, beauty and rarity. So, I thought that

this would be a great opportunity to show you the beauties which United States has to offer and

which I believe are left there with a purpose : so that people be aware of how important is to

protect and preserve the natural environments that have been created in millions of years.

Since I was a child, in the summer vacations I used to visit many protected areas of my

country. That was when I got to realize how beautiful nature can be, but at the same time, how

much fragile can be if is not being protected by the destructive actions of humans. Gradually,

most of the species of animals and plants from those areas have reached an extremely low

number. As a consequence, they have become areas protected by law.

My devotion and admiration for the nature made me understand better de concept of

sustainable development and eco-tourism. This presumes that human intervention on the natural

environment to be as little as possible so as the nature keep its beauty for future generations.

In the U.S.A. are many protected areas, a total of 58 officially-designated National Parks,

which have a great geographical importance and can offer the possibility of visiting under

educational, researching or touristic purposes. There you can find a lot of diversity in what

concerns species of plants, animals, types of rocks, waters and landscapes. I think that this state

has reached an impressive number of protected parks because it‘s rare and diverse environments

which were formed during the time. From this point of view, I think that the U.S.A. is the best

option for those who are fond of nature and are willing to spend more time close to the

wilderness. Additionally, there you can find places which are excellent for those who want to

relax, to meditate in order to release all the stress and discomfort that urban society brings in our

lives.

Overall, I think that with this theme I could make people see how important the nature is

and that it is our duty to preserve it and be able to live close to what it has to offer.



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ll. INTRODUCTION

The United States has 58 protected areas known as National Parks, which are located all

over the U.S. National parks must be established by an act of the United States Congress.

The idea of a "national park" must have jarred strangely the nineteenth century intellects

upon which the words of a Montana lawyer fell as he spoke from the shadows of a campfire in

the wilderness of the Yellowstone one autumn night 70 years ago. For Cornelius Hedges

addressed a generation dedicated to the winning of the West. He spoke at a time when stout

hearted pioneers had their faces determinedly set toward the distant Pacific as they steadily

pushed the frontier of civilization and industrialization across prairie and mountain range to

claim the land for a Nation between the coasts.

His plan was presented to men cast of that die-men whose courage and enterprise

characterized the era in which they lived. But Cornelius Hedges had looked deeply into

American character and was not disappointed. He counted upon the altruism which marked that

character, and planted in it the ideal which instantly took root and has since flowered as one of

America's greatest treasures: the national park system.

The first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant

in 1872, followed by Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the

National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife

therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will

leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

National parks usually have a variety of natural resources over large areas. Many of

them had been previously protected as National Monuments by the President under the

Antiquities Act before being upgraded by Congress. Seven national parks are paired with a

National Preserve, six of which are in Alaska. While administered together, they are considered



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as separate units and their areas are not included in the figures below. The newest national park

is Great Sand Dunes, established in 2004.

Twenty-seven states have national parks, as do the insular areas of American Samoa and the

United States Virgin Islands. Alaska and California have the most, each with eight, followed by

Utah with five and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell – St. Elias, at over 8

million acres (32,000 km2), followed by three more in Alaska; the smallest is Hot Springs, at

less than 6 thousand acres (24 km2). The total area protected by national parks is approximately

51.9 million acres (210,000 km2), for an average of 895 thousand acres (3,620 km2) but a

median of only 317 thousand acres (1,280 km2). The most-visited national park is Great Smoky

Mountains, with over nine million visitors in 2008, followed by the Grand Canyon, with over

four million. Fourteen national parks are designated World Heritage Sites.

1. LIST OF NATIONAL PARKS OF THE UNITED STATES

Acadia (Maine) - Covering most of Mount Desert Island and other coastal islands, Acadia

preserves the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast, granite peaks, ocean shoreline,

woodlands, and lakes. There are freshwater, estuary, forest, and intertidal habitats. The

first federally protected land that would become the park was set aside by President

Woodrow Wilson in 1913, but this is yet another park in the great legacy of John D.

Rockefeller, Jr., who donated about one-third of the park's acreage and is responsible for

building the carriage roads now enjoyed by hikers, bikers and equestrians.

American Samoa (American Samoa)

Arches (Utah)

Badlands (South Dakota)

Big Bend (Texas)

Biscayne (Florida)

Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colorado)

Bryce Canyon (Utah)

Canyonlands (Utah)



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Capitol Reef (Utah)

Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico)

Channel Islands (California).

Congaree (South Carolina)

Crater Lake (Oregon)

Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio) - This park along the Cuyahoga River has waterfalls, hills, trails,

and displays about early rural living. The park has numerous historic homes, bridges, and

structures. Cuyahoga notably includes perhaps the most unlikely patch of national

parkland -- an old automobile junkyard that is now home to beavers.

Death Valley (California) - Death Valley is the hottest, lowest, and driest place in the

United States. Daytime temperatures have topped 130°F (54°C) and it is home to

Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. There are canyons, colorful

badlands, sand dunes, mountains, and over 1000 species of plants.

Denali (Alaska)

Dry Tortugas (Florida)

Everglades (Florida)

Gates of the Arctic (Alaska)

Glacier (Montana)

Glacier Bay (Alaska)

Grand Canyon (Arizona) – Arizona‘s Grand Canyon National Park is the nation‘s second

most visited park. It is also included in every list of 7 Natural Wonders of the World,

often as the only U.S. site. President Theodore Roosevelt preserved the Grand Canyon as

a national monument in 1908, and it was designated a national park 11 years later.

Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Grand Teton is the tallest mountain in the Teton Range. The

park's Jackson Hole valley and reflective piedmont lakes contrast with the tall mountains,

which abruptly rise from the glacial sage-covered valley. The original Grand Teton

National Park, in Wyoming, was set aside by Congress and President Calvin Coolidge in

1929.

Great Basin (Nevada)

Great Sand Dunes (Colorado)



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Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina) - The Great Smoky Mountains, part of the

Appalachian Mountains, have a wide range of elevations, making them home to over 400

vertebrate species, 100 tree species, and 5000 plant species. Hiking is the park's main

attraction, with over 800 miles (1,300 km) of trails, including 70 miles (110 km) of the

Appalachian Trail.

Guadalupe Mountains (Texas)

Haleakală (Hawaii)

Hot Springs (Arkansas)

Isle Royale (Michigan)

Joshua Tree (California)

Katmai (Alaska)

Kenai Fjords (Alaska)

Kings Canyon (California)

Kobuk Valley (Alaska)

Lake Clark (Alaska)

Lassen Volcanic (California)

Mammoth Cave (Kentucky)

Mesa Verde (Colorado)

Mount Rainier (Washington)

North Cascades (Washington)

Olympic (Washington) - Situated on the Olympic Peninsula, this park ranges from

Pacific shoreline with tide pools to temperate rainforests to Mount Olympus. The

glaciated Olympic Mountains overlook the Hoh Rain Forest and Quinault Rain Forest,

the wettest area of the continental United States.

Petrified Forest (Arizona)

Redwood (California)

Rocky Mountains (Colorado) - This section of the Rocky Mountains has ecosystems

varying in elevation from the over 150 riparian lakes to mountain and subalpine forests to

the alpine tundra. Large wildlife including mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bears, and

cougars inhabit these igneous mountains and glacier valleys.



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Saguaro (Arizona)

Sequoia (California)

Shenandoah (Virginia)

Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota) - This region that enticed and influenced President

Theodore Roosevelt is now a park of three units in the badlands. Besides Roosevelt's

historic cabin, there are scenic drives and backcountry hiking opportunities. Wildlife

includes American Bison, pronghorns, Bighorn sheep, and wild horses.

Virgin Islands (United States Virgin Islands)

Voyageurs (Minnesota)

Wind Cave (South Dakota)

Wrangell St. Elias (Alaska)

Yellowstone (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) – Situated on the Yellowstone Caldera, the

first national park in the world has vast geothermal areas such as hot springs and geysers,

the best-known being Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. The yellow-hued Grand

Canyon of the Yellowstone River has numerous waterfalls, and four mountain ranges run

through the park.

Yosemite (California) - Yosemite has towering cliffs, waterfalls, and sequoias in a

diverse area of geology and hydrology. Half Dome and El Capitan rise from the central

glacier-formed Yosemite Valley, as does Yosemite Falls, North America's tallest

waterfall.

Zion (Utah) - This geologically unique area has colorful sandstone canyons, high

plateaus, and rock towers. Natural arches and exposed formations of the Colorado Plateau

make up a large wilderness of four ecosystems.

2.A BRIEF HISTORY OF U.S. NATIONAL PARKS

One of the first people generally credited with conceptualizing a "national park" was

George Catlin (1796-1872), a self-taught artist who traveled extensively among the native

peoples of North America, while sketching and painting portraits, landscapes, and scenes

from daily Indian life. On a trip to the Dakotas in 1832, he worried about the impact of

America's westward expansion on Indian civilization, wildlife, and wilderness. He wrote: "by



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some great protecting policy of government . . . in a magnificent park. A nation's park,

containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature's beauty!"

The idea had gained some acceptance years later, when in 1864 Congress donated Yosemite

Valley to California for preservation as a state park. The establishment of Yellowstone

National Park by act of Congress on March 1, 1872, for the first time signified that public

lands were to be set aside and administered by the federal government "for the benefit and

enjoyment of the people." In 1891, President Harrison established Yellowstone Timberland

Reserve as the nation's first forest reserve, and in 1903 President Roosevelt established

Pelican Island in Florida as the first national wildlife refuge. There was still no real system of

national parks in the United States until August 25, 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson

signed the Organic Act creating the National Park Service (NPS). Established under the

umbrella of the Department of the Interior, the NPS was responsible for protecting the 40

national parks and monuments then in existence.

In the years that followed, additional national parks and monuments (mostly in the

western states) were administered by the NPS, while other monuments and natural and

historical areas were administered as separate units by the War Department and the Forest

Service of the Department of Agriculture. No single agency provided unified management of

the varied federal parklands. An Executive Order in 1933 transferred 63 national monuments

and military sites from the Forest Service and the War Department to the National Park

Service. This action was a major step in the development of today's truly national system of

parks-a system that includes areas of historical, cultural, scientific, and scenic importance.

Additions to the National Park System are now generally made through acts of Congress, and

national parks can be created only through such acts. But the President has authority, under

the Antiquities Act of 1906, to proclaim national monuments on lands already under federal

jurisdiction. The Secretary of the Interior is usually asked by Congress for recommendations

on proposed additions to the System. The Secretary is counseled by the National Park System

Advisory Board, composed of private citizens, which advises on possible additions to the

System and policies for its management.

3.THE SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF

NATIONAL PARKS



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The national parks are more than landmarks, monuments, and territories, more than

mountains, forests, lakes, and geologic wonders. They represent a piece of the American

soul. The remarkable landscapes and features of nature preserved in national parks have

the power to awaken an extraordinary sense of wonder. The ethereal rise of a peak in

mist, the smooth glide of an eagle in flight, the bright slant of sunbeams piercing the

depths of a primeval forest — such glimpses of natural beauty can move people in

inexplicable ways.

National parks transport visitors far outside the confines of routine existence, to

awe-inspiring realms of mystery and splendor, governed by forces beyond our control.

By coming to national parks, many seek to transcend the superficial distractions that

clutter daily life and experience something of deep value. Indeed, these sanctuaries of

unspoiled nature represent places of spiritual renewal where we can return to the source

of our being and recover the freshness of a new beginning.

In addition to their scientific value as repositories of geological and biological

diversity and knowledge, national parks have profound spiritual and cultural significance

for the American people. The idea of nature as a place of inspiration and renewal played

a key role in the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. For example, a primary

motivation of the early conservationist John Muir for working to establish Yosemite

National Park in California was to preserve Yosemite Valley as ―a temple far finer thanany made by human hands.‖

The beauty and grandeur of national parks have inspired major works of art,

photography, literature, and music. In the late 19th century, Thomas Moran‘s dramatic

paintings of Wyoming‘s Yellowstone National Park and Albert Bierstadt‘s of Yosemite

Valley helped draw national attention to these remarkable places. Photographer Hansel

Adams‘s images of ageless trees and monumental mountains evoke a realm of timeless

beauty preserved in national parks.

National parks function as cultural icons of heritage and identity. For many, they

preserve the pristine essence and pioneering spirit of the United States. Parents take their

families on trips to national parks as secular pilgrimages to become familiar with national

landmarks that enshrine the values, ideals, and origins of our nation.



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Icons such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon have come to represent

the nation as a whole, while the glacier-clad peak of Washington‘s Mount Rainier has

become an evocative symbol of the Pacific Northwest. Much of the attraction of Great

Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park, comes from its association with

Appalachian and Cherokee cultures. National parks enshrine important American values

and aspirations. The high peaks and deep canyons of parks such as Alaska‘s Denali and

the Grand Canyon embody and adventure that build character and contribute to

America‘s can-do spirit. Many go to primeval forests and quiet spots in Redwood, Rocky

Mountain and other national parks as natural cathedrals, seeking to find peace and

contemplation and to recover a sense of who they are and what is important in life.

American Indians, along with the native cultures of Hawaii, Alaska, and Samoa,

attach many of their deepest spiritual values to sacred places, beliefs, practices, and

traditions connected to lands that are now within national parks. The Hopi and other

tribes of the Colorado Plateau come on pilgrimages to Mesa Verde National Park to

perform rituals at the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi, their mysterious ancestors. The

Cherokees look to the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee as their

ancestral homeland and regard the rounded summits such as Clingman‘s Dome as places

of refuge and healing, and sources of life-giving rivers.

Finally, national parks hold special value and attraction for people of all cultures,

both in the United States and around the world. Japanese Americans living in the Pacific

Northwest, for example, refer to Mount Rainier as ―Tacoma Fuji,‖ linking the mountain

to the sacred volcano that serves as the symbol of their homeland of Japan. African

Americans can take special pride in the Buffalo Soldiers, African-American U.S. Army

soldiers who helped safeguard Yosemite, Sequoia, and other national parks in their early

days. People from all over the world come to visit national parks in the United States to

learn about establishing similar sanctuaries in their own countries. America‘s ―best idea‖

has become a model for protecting special places around the Earth and a major

contribution to world culture.

4. YELLWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – THE FIRST

NATIONAL PARK IN THE WORLD



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Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by

President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the

U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone,

widely held to be the first national park in the world, is known for its wildlife and its

many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular

features in the park. It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is

dominant.

Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years.

The region was bypassed during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 19th

century. Aside from visits by mountain men during the early-to-mid-19th century,

organized exploration did not begin until the late 1860s. The U.S. Army was

commissioned to oversee the park just after its establishment. In 1917, administration of

the park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the

previous year. Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their

architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than 1,000

archaeological sites.

Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km2),

comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is one of the

largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone

Caldera, the largest volcano on the continent. The Caldera is considered an active

volcano. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years.

Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing

volcanism. Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of

Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the

largest remaining, nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone.

Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented,

including several that are either endangered or threatened. The vast forests and grasslands

also include unique species of plants. Yellowstone Park is the largest and most famous

fauna location in the Continental United States. Grizzly Bears, wolves, and free-ranging

herds of bison and elk live in the park. The Yellowstone Park Bison Herd is the oldest

and largest public bison herd in the United States. Forest fires occur in the park each



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year; in the large forest fires of 1988, nearly one third of the park was burnt. Yellowstone

has numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, boating, fishing and

sightseeing. Paved roads provide close access to the major geothermal areas as well as

some of the lakes and waterfalls. During the winter, visitors often access the park by way

of guided tours that use either snow coaches or snowmobile.

4.1. Geography

The Park lies in a wide caldera basin over a volcanic hot spot in the most seismically

active region of the Rocky Mountains, which experiences some 2,000 earth tremors and

small earthquakes a year. Its central plateau is a 650,000 ha forest surrounded by

mountains that rise to 4,000m. Crustal uplift 65 million years ago raised vast blocks of

Cretaceous marine sedimentary rock to form the southern Rocky Mountains. For 25

million years andesitic volcanic ash and mudflows were recurrent, covering and

petrifying forests: nearly 200 species of petrified plants have been found, and one of the

world largest petrified forests. A more recent period of rhyolitic volcanism began in the

region about two million years ago. During this time thousands of cubic kilometers of

magma filled immense chambers under the plateau, and then erupted to the surface.

The latest eruptive cycle formed the caldera 48 km wide by 72 km long when the active

magma chambers erupted and collapsed, forming the Yellowstone plateau. The

crystallized magma and injections of fresh magma are the heat source of thehydrothermal geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles.

Yellowstone is one of the world‘s twelve major geothermal areas and contains two-

thirds of its geysers, with over 300, 200-250 being active, and more than 10,000

hydrothermal features. It is rated by the Geological Survey as 21st out of the 169

potentially dangerous volcanic centers in the country. During the last three years the

caldera floor has been seen to become more restless with multiple episodes of caldera

uplift, doming in places by some 7m a year, three times faster than usual. This is

probably due to the emergence of a magmatic plume but need not presage eruption.

Most of the area was glaciated during the Pleistocene under a 900m thickness of

ice, and many glacial features remain. The Park lies on the headwaters of three major

rivers: the Yellowstone River, a major tributary of the Missouri that flows via the

Mississippi to the Gulf and Gibbon Rivers that unite to form the Madison River, which



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also joins the Missouri, and the Snake River that rises near the Park's southern boundary

and joins the Columbia to flow into the Pacific. Yellowstone Lake, at 2,357m, is the

largest high level lake in North America, 32 km by 23 km across, 35.400 ha in area, with

an average depth of 43m and a maximum depth of about 122m. Lower Yellowstone Falls,

94m high, is the highest of more than 40 waterfalls in the Park.

4.2. Flora and Fauna

Approximately 80% of the Park is forested, and 15% is grassland. The altitude

differences produce a range of plant communities, from semi-arid steppe to alpine tundra.

Eight species of coniferous trees and more than 1,700 species of vascular plants grow in

the Park. There are dozens of species of flowering plants that have been identified, most

of which bloom between the months of May and September. The Yellowstone Sand

Verbena is a rare flowering plant found only in Yellowstone. It is closely related to

species usually found in much warmer climates, making the sand verbena an enigma. The

estimated 8,000 examples of this rare flowering plant all make their home in the sandy

soils on the shores of Yellowstone Lake, well above the waterline.

In Yellowstone's hot waters, bacteria form mats of bizarre shapes consisting of

trillions of individuals. These bacteria are some of the most primitive life forms on earth.

Flies and other arthropods live on the mats, even in the middle of the bitterly cold

winters. Initially, scientists thought that microbes there gained sustenance only fromsulfur, but in 2005 some researchers discovered that the sustenance for at least some of

the diverse species is molecular hydrogen.

Non-native plants sometimes threaten native species by using up nutrient resources.

Though exotic species are most commonly found in areas with the greatest human

visitation, such as near roads and at major tourist areas, they have also spread into the

backcountry. Generally, most exotic species are controlled by pulling the plants out of the

soil or by spraying, both of which are time consuming and expensive.

Yellowstone is widely considered to be the finest mega fauna wildlife habitat in the lower

48 states. There are almost 60 species of mammals in the park, including the gray wolf,

the threatened lynx, and grizzly bears. Other large mammals include the bison (buffalo),

black bear, elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goat, pronghorn, bighorn

sheep and mountain lion.



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The Yellowstone Park Bison Herd is the largest public herd of American Bison in the

United States. The relatively large bison populations are a concern for ranchers, who fear

that the species can transmit bovine diseases to their domesticated cousins. In fact, about

half of Yellowstone's bison have been exposed to brucellosis, a bacterial disease that

came to North America with European cattle that may cause cattle to miscarry. The

disease has little effect on park bison, and no reported case of transmission from wild

bison to domestic livestock has been filed. However, the Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service (APHIS) has stated that Bison are the "likely source" of the spread of

the disease in cattle in Wyoming and North Dakota. Elk also carry the disease and are

believed to have transmitted the infection to horses and cattle. Bison once numbered

between 30 and 60 million individuals throughout North America, and Yellowstone

remains one of their last strongholds. Their populations had increased from less than 50

in the park in 1902 to 4,000 by 2003. The Yellowstone Park Bison Herd is believed to be

one of only four free roaming and genetically pure herds on public lands in North

America. The other three herds are the Henry Mountains Bison Herd of Utah, at Wind

Cave National Park in South Dakota and on Elk Island in Alberta, Canada.

An estimated 600 grizzly bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with

more than half of the population living within Yellowstone. The grizzly is currently listed

as a threatened species, however the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that

they intend to take it off the endangered species list for the Yellowstone region but will

likely keep it listed in areas where it has not yet recovered fully. Opponents of delisting

the grizzly are concerned that states might once again allow hunting and that better

conservation measures need to be implemented to ensure a sustainable population.

Eighteen species of fish live in Yellowstone, including the core range of the

Yellowstone cutthroat trout — a fish highly sought by anglers. Since 2001, all native sport

fish species caught in Yellowstone waterways are subject to a catch and release law.

Yellowstone is also home to six species of reptiles, such as the painted turtle and Prairie

rattlesnake, and four species of amphibians, including the Boreal Chorus Frog.

311 species of birds have been reported, almost half of which nest in Yellowstone.

As of 1999, twenty-six pairs of nesting bald eagles have been documented. Extremely

rare sightings of whooping cranes have been recorded, however only three examples of



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this species are known to live in the Rocky Mountains, out of 385 known worldwide.

Other birds, considered to be species of special concern because of their rarity in

Yellowstone include the common loon, harlequin duck, osprey and peregrine falcon.

4.3. Recreation

Yellowstone Park has had a long history of tourism, promoted at first by railroads.

Viewing the geysers and great herds of elk have always been major attractions. There are

five major developed areas in the Park which offer food, lodging, visitors‘ centers,

camping and recreational vehicle parking. These are Mammoth Hot Springs, Old

Faithful, Canyon Village, Lake-Fishing Bridge and Grant Village-West Thumb.

Camping is available at a dozen campgrounds with more than 2,000 campsites.

Camping is also available in surrounding National Forests, as well as in Grand Teton

National Park to the south. Backcountry campsites are accessible only by foot or by

horseback and require a permit. There are 1,800 km of hiking trails available. The park is

not considered to be a good destination for mountaineering because of the instability of

volcanic rock which predominates. Around thermal features, wooden and paved trails

have been constructed to ensure visitor safety, and most of these areas are handicapped

accessible. The National Park Service maintains a year round clinic at Mammoth Hot

Springs and provides emergency services throughout the year.

Hunting is not permitted, though it is allowed in the surrounding national forestsduring open season. Fishing is a popular activity, and a Yellowstone Park fishing license

is required to fish in park waters. Many park waters are fly fishing only and all native fish

species are catch and release only. Boating is prohibited on rivers and creeks except for a

8.0 km stretch of the Lewis River between Lewis and Shoshone Lake, and it is open to

non-motorized use only. Yellowstone Lake has a marina, and the lake is the most popular

boating destination.

In the early history of the park, visitors were allowed, and sometimes even

encouraged, to feed the bears. The bears had learned to beg for food, and visitors

welcomed the chance to get their pictures taken with them. This led to numerous injuries

to humans each year. In 1970, park officials changed their policy and started a vigorous

program to educate the public on the dangers of close contact with bears, and to try to

eliminate opportunities for bears to find food in campgrounds and trash collection areas.



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Although it has become more difficult to observe them in recent years, the number of

human injuries and deaths has taken a significant drop and visitors are in less danger.

4.4 Cultural Heritage

The Park's cultural history dates back 12,000 years, evident from the presence of

obsidian spearheads. It includes prehistoric and historic use by a variety of Amerindian

groups who relied heavily on the resources of the area especially in summer, and by early

trappers and adventurers; the Spanish introduced the horse. Lewis and Clark passed by

the north end of the Park in 1805. It was used by 19th century American Indians of the

Crow, Blackfoot, Shoshone and Bannock tribes. Following troubles in 1877 which

occasioned 300 deaths, the Indians were removed to the Wind River Reservation and in

between 1886 and 1918 the Army at Fort Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, assumed

the administration. About 2% of the Park has been inventoried for archaeological

resources, and some 1,000 prehistoric and historic archaeological sites have been

recorded of which approximately 84% are American Indian.

Yellowstone has over 1,100 structures associated with the Euro-American

occupation and management of the park where the legacy of the early civilian and army

administration and the history of concessions in national parks are preserved. Six of

these structures are National Historic Landmarks: Fishing Bridge Trailside Museum,Madison Junction Trailside Museum, Norris Geyser Basin Trailside Museum, Northeast

Entrance Station, Obsidian Cliff and Old Faithful Inn. There are four National Historic

Districts: Lake Fish Hatchery, Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful and Roosevelt Lodge.

And there are five National Historic Sites: Lake Hotel, Lamar Buffalo Ranch, Obsidian

Cliff Kiosk, Queen‘s Laundry Bath House and the U.S. Post Office at Mammoth Hot

Springs. The Park's collections have some 200,000 natural and cultural objects including

artwork, ethnographic and archaeological artifacts, historic objects, and natural resource

specimens.

The Heritage and Research Center is located at Gardiner, Montana. The center is

home to the Yellowstone National Park's museum collection, archives, research library,

historian, archeology lab, and herbarium. The Yellowstone National Park Archives

maintain collections of historical records of Yellowstone and the National Park Service.



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The collection includes the administrative records of Yellowstone, as well as resource

management records, records from major projects, and donated manuscripts and personal

papers.

4.5. Management Constrains

Although a very large area, Yellowstone is ecologically an island which is subject to

the fragmentation of its habitats and is surrounded by logging, livestock raising and

mining claims which have made the protection of a buffer area of a Greater Yellowstone

ecosystem controversial. Nevertheless the surrounding lands have an important role in

maintaining the World Heritage values of the property.

This applies especially to its population of bison which are the last wild free-

ranging bison in the United States in their ancestral habitat, and have great national

symbolic value. Winter weather naturally regulates their numbers in the Park, but snow-

ploughing of the roads for snowmobiles facilitates their movement and their recolonising

of lands outside the Park. This has led to the perceived need for an annual cull north and

west of the Park during which thousands of bison have been killed since 1985 by the US

Department of Agriculture and the Montana Department of Livestock. This not only

keeps their numbers in check, but is done to reduce the alleged spread of brucellosis, a

disease which some of the Yellowstone bison population harbors, causing cows to abort

their calves, and threatening the interstate shipment of cattle. According to the localconservationist Buffalo Field Campaign there has never been a confirmed case of

brucellosis transmission from buffalo to cattle under natural conditions, but there is

strong opposition from the Montana ranching industry over rights to pasture.

In 1995 the State of Montana sued the NPS and USDA Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service for delaying their long-term bison management planning. During the

winter of 1996-7 its agents shot and shipped to slaughter 1,084 bison in a brucellosis

control campaign which became a nationally important public issue. After long

negotiations, the federal agencies developed and in 2000, persuaded the State of Montana

to adopt its final environmental impact statement on bison management designed to

reconcile the free-ranging population with protection of Montana‘s livestock industry

from the threat of disease. Measures in the 2000 Interagency Bison Management Plan



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include monitoring the population, permitting bison to range some of the public lands

adjoining the Park in winter when there are no cattle present, and eventually, vaccination.

However, since 1997, 3,038 buffalo have been culled, including 1,016 during the winter

of 2007-2008 and 30% of the population in 2009 by or with the encouragement of state

and national organizations: the Montana Department of Livestock, the National Park

Service and the Fish & Wildlife Service. In 2009 the State of Montana signed a 30-year

agreement on restricting livestock grazing and the removal of cattle from the northern

boundary of the park; former pasture such as on Horse Butte in the west were also closed

to cattle and opened to migrating bison.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

The Great Smoky Mountains are a mountain range rising along the Tennessee –

North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the

Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The

range is sometimes called the Smoky or Smokey Mountains, and the name is commonly

shortened to the Smokies. The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great

Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. The park was

established in 1934, and, with over 9 million visits per year, it is the most-visited national

park in the United States.

The Great Smokies are part of an International Biosphere Reserve. The range is

home to an estimated 760 km2 of old growth forest, constituting the largest such stand

east of the Mississippi River. The cove hardwood forests in the range's lower elevations

are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America, and the Southern Appalachian

spruce-fir forest that coats the range's upper elevations is the largest of its kind. The Great

Smokies are also home to the densest black bear population in the Eastern United States

and the most diverse salamander population outside of the tropics.

Along with the Biosphere reserve, the Great Smokies have been designated a

UNESCO World Heritage Site. The U.S. National Park Service preserves and maintains

78 structures within the national park that were once part of the numerous small

Appalachian communities scattered throughout the range's river valleys and coves.



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The name "Smoky" comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the range

and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance. This fog, which is most common in

the morning and after rainfall, is the result of warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico

cooling rapidly in the higher elevations of Southern Appalachia.

5.1. Geography

The Great Smoky Mountains stretch from the Pigeon River in the northeast to the

Little Tennessee River to the southwest. The northwestern half of the range gives way to

a series of elongate ridges known as the "Foothills," the outermost of which include

Chilhowee Mountain and English Mountain. The range is roughly bounded on the south

by the Tuckasegee River and to the southeast by Soco Creek and Jonathan Creek. The

Great Smokies comprise parts of Blount County, Sevier County, and Cocke County in

Tennessee and Swain County and Haywood County in North Carolina.

The sources of several rivers are located in the Smokies, including the Little Pigeon

River, the Oconaluftee River, and Little River. Streams in the Smokies are part of the

Tennessee River watershed and are thus entirely west of the Eastern Continental Divide.

The largest stream wholly within the park is Abrams Creek, which rises in Cades Cove

and empties into the Chilhowee Lake impoundment of the Little Tennessee River near

Chilhowee Dam. The Little Tennessee River passes through five impoundments along therange's southwestern boundary, namely Tellico Lake, Chilhowee Lake, Calderwood

Lake, Cheoah Lake, and Fontana Lake.

5.2. Flora and Fauna

Heavy logging in the late 19th-century and early 20th-century devastated much of

the forests of the Smokies, but the National Park Service estimates 760 km2 of old

growth forest remains, comprising the largest old growth stand in the Eastern United

States. Most of the forest is a mature second-growth hardwood forest. The range's 1,600

species of flowering plants include over 100 species of native trees and 100 species of

native shrubs. The Great Smokies are also home to over 450 species of non-vascular

plants, and 2,000 species of fungi.

The forests of the Smokies are typically divided into three zones — the cove

hardwood forests in the stream valleys, coves, and lower mountain slopes, the northern



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hardwood forests on the higher mountain slopes, and the spruce-fir or boreal forest at the

very highest elevations. Balds — patches of land where trees are unexpectedly absent or

sparse — are interspersed through the mid-to-upper elevations in the range. Balds include

grassy balds, which are highland meadows covered primarily by thick grasses, and heath

balds, which are dense thickets of rhododendron and mountain laurel typically occurring

on narrow ridges. Mixed oak-pine forests are found on dry ridges, especially on the

south-facing North Carolina side of the range.

Many wildflowers grow in mountains and valleys of the Great Smokies, including

bee balm, Solomon's seal, Dutchman's breeches, various trilliums, the Dragon's Advocate

and even hardy orchids. There are two native species of rhododendron in the area. The

Catawba rhododendron has purple flowers in May and June, while the rosebay

rhododendron has longer leaves and blooms white or a light pink in June and July. The

orange- to sometimes red-flowered flame azalea closely follows along with the Catawbas.

The closely related mountain laurel blooms in between the two, and all of the blooms

progress from lower to higher elevations. The reverse is true in autumn, when nearly bare

mountaintops covered in frozen fog can be separated from green valleys by very bright

and varied leaf colors. The rhododendrons are broadleafs, whose leaves droop in order to

shed wet and heavy snows that come through the region in winter.

The Great Smoky Mountains are home to 66 species of mammals, over 240 species

of birds, 43 species of amphibians, 60 species of fish, and 40 species of reptiles. The

range has the densest black bear population east of the Mississippi River. The black bear

has come to symbolize wildlife in the Smokies, and the animal frequently appears on the

covers of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's literature. Most of the range's adult

eastern black bears weigh between 45 kg and 230 kg.

Other mammals in the Great Smokies include the white-tailed deer, the population

of which drastically expanded with the creation of the national park. The bobcat is the

range's only remaining wild cat species, although sightings of mountain lions — which

once thrived in the area — are still occasionally reported. The coyote is not believed to be

native to the range, but has moved into the area in recent years and is treated as a native

species. Two species of fox — the red fox and the gray fox — are found in the Smokies,

with red foxes being documented at all elevations.



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The Smokies are home to a diverse bird population due to the presence of multiple

forest types. Species that thrive in southern hardwood forests, such as the Red-eyed

Vireo, Wood Thrush, Wild Turkey, Northern Parula, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and

Tufted Titmouse, are found throughout the range's lower elevations and cove hardwood

forests. Species more typical of cooler climates, such as the Northern Raven, Winter

Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Dark-eyed Junco, and

Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, and Canada warblers, are found in the range's spruce-fir

and northern hardwood zones. Ovenbirds, Whip-poor-wills, and Downy Woodpeckers

live in the drier pine-oak forests and heath balds. Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles have

been spotted at all elevations in the park. Peregrine Falcon sightings are also not

uncommon, and a Peregrine falcon eyrie is known to have existed near Alum Cave Bluffs

throughout the 1930s. Red-tailed Hawks, the most common hawk species, have been

sighted at all elevations in the range. Owl species residing in the Smokies include the

Barred owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, and Northern Saw-whet owl.

Timber rattlesnakes — one of two poisonous snake species in the Smokies — are

found at all elevations in the range. The other poisonous snake, the copperhead, is

typically found at lower elevations. Other reptiles include the eastern box turtle, the fence

lizard, the black rat snake, and the northern water snake.

The Great Smokies are home to one of the world's most diverse salamander

populations. Five of the world's nine families of salamanders are found in the range,

consisting of up to thirty-one species. A type of Jordan's salamander known as the

redcheek salamander is found only in the Smokies. The Imitator salamander is found only

in the Smokies and the nearby Plott Balsams and Great Balsam Mountains. Two other

species — the Southern gray-cheeked salamander and the Southern Appalachian

salamander — occur only in the general region. Other species include the shovelnose,

Blackbelly Salamander, Eastern Red-spotted Newt, and Spotted Dusky salamander.The

legendary hellbender inhabits the range's swifter streams. Other amphibians include the

American toad and the American bullfrog, wood frog, Upland chorus frog, Northern

green frog, and spring peeper.

Fish inhabiting the streams of the Smokies include trout, lamprey, darter, shiner,

bass, and sucker. The brook trout is the only trout species native to the range, although



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Northwestern rainbow trout and European brown trout were introduced in the first half of

the 20th-century. The larger rainbow and brown trout outcompete the native brook trout

for food and habitat at lower elevations. As such, most of the brook trout found in the

park today are in streams above 3,000 feet in elevation. Trout in the Smokies are

generally smaller than other members of their species in different locales. Protected fish

species in the range include the smoky and yellowfin madtom, the spotfin chub, and the

duskytail darter.The lightning-bug firefly whose synchronized flashing light displays

occur in mid-June, is native to the Smoky Mountains with a population epicenter near

Elkmont, Tennessee.

5.3. Recreation

The Smokies are within a day's drive of a third of the U.S. population, and very few

places in the East are in their league as an outdoors-recreation destination.

This national park literally has hundreds of miles of trails for equestrians, including

the only sections of the Appalachian Trail open to horseback riders. Also, five auto-

accessible horse camps make riding the Smokies even easier. More than 40 backcountry

campsites also welcome equestrians.

The Foothills Parkway was created for scenic driving. It begins at the western end of

the park, near Chilhowee Lake, and travels atop Chilhowee Mountain. Look Rock

observation tower is a must-stop. A short hike leads to a 360-degree vista. Continue pastnumerous other overlooks. Look Rock Campground makes for a good overnighting

venue next to the Foothills Parkway. A disjunct section of the parkway travels a short

distance on the eastern end of the park.

Nearly 500 miles of fishable streams criss-cross the Smokies, from the upper prongs

of Forney Creek at over 4,000 feet to the mouth of Abrams Creek, where it spills into

Chilhowee Lake at less than 900 feet. Brook trout are the only native trout, but after the

logging days of the late 19th and early 20th century, both brook and brown trout were

stocked. Now, these three species, along with smallmouth bass in the lowest streams,

thrive here.

Backpacking is one of the best ways to see the Smokies' many faces. If you walk

from low to high, you‘ll enjoy much the same diversity of flora and fauna as a

backpacker hiking the entire Appalachian Trail (AT) from Georgia to Maine. The AT is



the master path of the park, offering stone camping shelters, spectacular scenery — and no

solitude.

Ten campgrounds are distributed throughout the Smokies, and a few of them

(Abrams Creek, Cosby, and Big Creek) allow for a car-camping experience that's worlds

away from the stereotypical RV-park crowd scene.

lV. CONCLUSION

I was delighted to find out so many interesting things about the U.S. national parks,

especially because some of them are being considered World Heritage Sites.

Through this work paper I want to show the importance and significance of those

natural places now, in the century of speed, when people are not so concerned in

preserving what nature has more special and unique.

I think that the 21st

century with growing threats such as global warming, population

expansion, and habitat destruction, it is more important than ever to be aware of the

possible effects which may occur if we do not act properly. Nature can be as

unpredictable as humans can be, that is why I want to show all the benefits we get by

having an eco-friendly behavior and acting pursuant to the laws of nature.

Documents

National Parks of the USA