National ParksBrianna R. & Shawn M.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otaYZ60wK5I

National Parks

A reserve of land that a state owns

84 million acres of protected National Park land

Over 58 National Parks in the United State Over 400 sites including historic buildings, monuments,

battlefields, and seashores

More than 275 million visitors each year

Criteria includes beauty, geological features, ecosystems, and recreation

Spread throughout 27 states

Conservation

Teddy Roosevelt was a big supporter: 32nd President of United States (“Conservationist

President”)

Established 51 Federal Bird Reservations, 4 National Game Preserves, 140 National Forests, 5 National Parks, 18, National Monuments

Birth place is now considered a national historic site in New York City

Junior Ranger Program

Gives youngest visitors opportunity to uniquely explore the parks with their families

Allows kids to become engaged and interested

Badges and/or certificates can be earned when the program is completed

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Established in 1872 in Wyoming, extending into Montana and Idaho

First national park in the United States

Famous for its geysers “Old Faithful”=most popular

Inhabited by grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk, and many others

Hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and sightseeing are recreational activities offered by the park

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Located in Arizona

Colorado River carved the steep-sided canyon many years ago

277 miles long, 18 miles wide, depth of over a mile!

Inhabited by 34 mammal species 18 rodents, 8 bats

Nearly 5 million visitors a year

Camping, hiking, rafting among recreational activities Canyon traveled by mule, foot, and kayak

Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains

Created in 1934

Serves as the border between Tennessee and North Carolina

Most visited of the National Parks with over 9 million tourists a year

Hiking, camping, and fishing among the most popular recreational activities

Gets its name from a constant fog that hangs over the mountains (“Smokies”)

187,000 acres of old growth forest

Receives heavy rainfall/snowfall each year (flooding)

GROUP ACTIVITY!!!!