Our planet is a unique place in space. It is a haven for millions of life forms, the main among which is considered to be a man. But the wonders of nature do not end with a rational being. How many wonderful corners can be found on Earth, and how many have not yet been explored! Each continent has its own attractions. North America is one of them. People are trying to protect such places from their own harmful influence and create protected areas. The national parks and reserves of North America are quite diverse. The traveler will find here mountains, forests and deserts.
Grand Canyon
In the state of Arizona there is a huge fissure 400 kilometers long. It was formed by the Walpie and Colorado rivers. They diligently carved the canyon for many millions of years, receiving support from the wind, which also actively participated in its creation. The reserves of North America can be proud of such an object. It was discovered in 1540 by settlers from Europe, but the indigenous population knew about it much earlier. The Indians lived inside caves, of which there are a lot in the canyon. It is interesting that this is the largest canyon on earth. He survived 3 geological eras, and given that there were only 4 of them, this is a great achievement. Tourists have long chosen the southern part of this place, but the northern part is not visited so often. The rest of the canyon is difficult to reach, and people rarely wander there.
Yellowstone National Park
Parks and reserves of North America can boast of another of the mysterious places - it's Yellowstone. It became the first national park in the world, which was founded in 1872. The park is located in three US states - Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. World fame brought him geysers and picturesque places that travelers from all over the world are not averse to seeing. The highest geyser in the world called "Steamboat" is located here. Also, tourists are attracted by Mammoth Springs and a dormant volcano - the Yellowstone Caldera. If this volcano decided to wake up, it would destroy all of North America. In the meantime, this is one of the most beautiful must-see places in the US.
Yosemite Park
The nature reserves of North America have a special charm, as nature here is simply unique. Yosemite National Park is proof of this. It is located in California, on the slope of the Sierra Nevada. It has many beautiful places that attract tourists so much. About 2600 rivers carry their waters in this territory, in addition, they formedmany very large waterfalls, the largest of which are Yosemite (742 m) and Snow Creek (652 m). But the wonders of Mother Nature don't end there. The largest single granite cliff on earth is also located here - this is El Capitano. There's plenty more to see while cruising Yosemite, but don't miss the giant sequoias, as you won't find them anywhere else on the planet.
Carlsbad Caverns
The nature reserves of North America amaze not only with land-based attractions, but also underground ones. These include the Carlsbad Caverns. This park is located in the state of New Mexico, namely in the mountains of Guadalupe. It consists of a system of karst caves, which, thanks to mineral formations, are of extraordinary beauty. In total there are 80 caves, the total length of which is 12 km. The uniqueness of this place also lies in the fact that it has become home to many bats. There are about 1 million of them here. The park is open all year, so you can visit it at any time except Christmas. Tourists themselves can descend into the caves, or they can comfortably ride the elevator.
Banff - Canadian National Park
Reserves in North America are located throughout the continent, including Canada. Banff Park is the oldest in this country. It was founded in 1885 in the province of Alberta. This is the third largest protected park in the world. This is a mountainous area, which has a large number of ice fields, glaciers anddense coniferous forests. The history of Banff's creation is very complex, as there was a constant struggle between the development of infrastructure and the conservation of nature. In the 1990s, however, it was recognized in court that the changes should not harm the environment. This Canadian park is one of the most wonderful places for tourists to visit in all of North America. The unique nature of the Rocky Mountains attracts with its landscapes and many unforgettable activities.
Wood Buffalo
Wood Buffalo is considered the largest national park in Canada. Its area is about 44 thousand km2. Such dimensions allow it to be considered one of the largest parks in the world. It was founded in 1922 in the provinces of the Northwest Territory and Alberta. The popularity of the park was brought by the fact that the largest herd of wild bison in America lives here. They number about 2500 individuals. Of the rare birds, pelicans and American cranes live here. Another property of the reserve is the widest inland river delta in the world, which is formed by the Peace River and Athabasca.
Shel-Ha Mexican Reserve
National reserves of North America are designed to protect nature not only on the mainland itself, but also in coastal areas. The Xel-Ha Ecological Park in Mexico is a prominent example of coastal national parks. In the distant past, it was the seaport of the Maya Indians. In modern times, it has become a nature reserve with beautiful grottoes and bays, in which there are hugeturtles, manatees and dolphins. This is a kind of natural aquarium, which will become a paradise for any tourist. It originated in a natural cave, which is fed by both sea and fresh waters. This gives extraordinary transparency to the bay without preventing nature lovers from viewing the underwater world in all its beauty. The park is very friendly to its visitors. Here you can go diving, swim with dolphins and turtles, lie on the beach and eat in one of the many cafes that serve a special dish - fried cactus.
Thus, the nature reserves of North America surprise us with their diversity and beauty. Of course, there are many more than those listed, but it takes a lot of time to explore them all. Once you visit at least one of these parks, you will never forget the beauty of this wilderness.
