National parks are naturally beautiful. Most parks were declared
parks to preserve the wild beauty that makes them so amazing. While
nearly all these protected areas are pretty, a number are simply amazing
in their beauty. Take a look at the list of the most beautiful national
parks in the world.
1. Snowdonia, Wales
As you might suppose from the name,
Snowdonia National Park
is set on Snowdon Mountain. The mountain is 3560 feet tall and as
picturesque as it is peaceful. Lakes and rivers are set amid trees and
rocky outcroppings, making it the perfect place to practice photography.
Visitors will also find old buildings, including several castles within
park borders. The history of the area is full of folk tales and legends
and makes it an even more exciting place to visit.
In 1951, the Park was established as the 3rd National Park in Great
Britain, after the Peak District and the Lake District. The Park covers
2,140 km2 (827 square miles), and has 60 km (37 miles) of coastline. The
natural forests of the Park are of the mixed deciduous type. The Welsh
Oak, ash, birch, hazel and mountain-ash are the most common trees. Over
26,000 people live within the Snowdonia National Park, of whom
approximately 62% can speak some Welsh. Every year Snowdonia National
Park attracts more than 6 million visitors, making it the 3rd most
visited National Park in Wales and England. If you are a hiker,
Snowdonia National Park is the perfect place to visit.
2. Grand Canyon, the United States
The Colorado River carved out
the Grand Canyon over
hundreds of years, creating an amazingly complex canyon. Tourists flock
to the site every year to admire it or even to hike down and camp in the
myriad of channels cut out by the water. The Grand Canyon is one of the
Natural Wonders of the World and has also been named a UNESCO World
Heritage site. It stretches over more than 1,200,000 acres in Arizona.
One of the best things about the Grand Canyon area is that it has
some of the cleanest air in the US. There are about 1,737 famous species
of vascular plants, 195 species of lichen, 167 species of fungi and 64
species of moss found in the Park. Grand Canyon has also a dozen endemic
plants, which are known only within the boundaries of the Park.
However, only 10% of its flora is actually exotic. Apart from casual
sightseeing from the South Rim, running, hiking, rafting and helicopter
tours are highly popular here. The Grand Canyon 24 hour Ultra Marathon
is a 126 km (78-mile) race that takes participants out on the North Rim
of Grand Canyon. So, if you are a runner, you shouldn’t miss this event.
3. Kruger National Park, South Africa
One of the largest national parks in the world,
Kruger
covers millions of acres of land. It is host to an amazing number of
African species, including elephants, giraffes and many other animals.
You can check these animals out from viewing towers scattered throughout
the park. Apart from the towers, development is nearly nonexistent and
the park fends for itself in most ways.
The Park boasts 21 rest camps, 2 private lodge concessions, along
with 15 private designated safari lodges. Camping in the Kruger National
Park has become more popular with backpackers and tourists since it is
cheaper, open to everyone and doesn’t require any special permission to
partake. The Kruger National Park offers 9 different trails, including
overnight, but you may not find trails in the wilderness areas.
4. Deosai, Pakistan
Deosai National Park is best known for its
impressive flowers. Every spring, thousands of different types of
flowers bloom. They form a living carpet of color that attracts an even
larger variety of butterflies. The park is certainly worth seeing in the
spring, though it is lovely all year round. Another point of interest
would be the park’s incredible plateaus, some of the highest in the
world.
In 1993, the Park was established to protect the Himalayan Brown Bear
along with its habitat. Though the Government of Pakistan has taken
several effective measures during the last decade, the bear is still
under great threat. There are also many great and unique animals and
birds. The Deosai National Park is a tourist attraction and many
tourists who visit Baltistan also go to Deosai.
5. Kakadu National Park, Australia
The Australian government and the aboriginal people work together to manage
the Kakadu National Park.
It is a World Heritage site and the amazing views attract tourists year
round. One of the most interesting attractions is the aboriginal rock
art that can be found in the area. It is also home to a range of
animals, including the saltwater crocodile.
The flora of the Kakadu National Park is among the richest in
northern Australia with over 1700 plant species, which is a result of
the landform, geological and habitat diversity of the Park. The Kakadu
National Park is also one of the world’s most weed free national parks.
No wonder the Park draws hundreds of thousands of tourists per year.
6. Hortobagy, Hungary
Hortobagy National Park was the first national park
in Hungary. It was established as a national park in 1973. In 1999, the
Park was elected among the World Heritage sites. Hortobagy is rich with
unique folklore and interesting cultural history. It’s an official
refuge for wild horses and home to a number of endangered birds. The
Park provides habitat for over 342 species of birds and is a bird
watcher’s paradise, with plenty of migratory waterfowl, too.
7. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
If you head into inland Croatia, you will find
Plitvice National Park.
It is an area of mountainous terrain ideal for hiking and a number of
lakes and streams. The unique thing about the water in the park is that
most of the lakes and streams contain travertine. This gives the water a
clarity seldom found in nature, as well as a very bright blue-green
hue.
8. Madain Saley National Historic Park, Saudi Arabia
Where many national parks are heavily forested,
Madain Saley
is almost entirely made up of desert and rock. It is still one of the
most beautiful sights you’ll see, however, particularly when you come
across one of the amazing oasis scattered throughout the park. An
ancient burial ground is also located on the site. It’s estimated that
the more than 125 tombs and facades were cut from rock somewhere between
500 BC and 100 AD. They are still in amazing condition and certainly
worth a visit if you’re in the area.
9. Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
Nepal has a unique, wild look to it and
Sagarmatha
is no exception. The park contains a number of Sherpa villages, as well
as a few monasteries. Here you will find Mount Everest, as well as its
sister mountains, so the national park sees quite a bit of traffic.
Several animals make their home here, including mountain goats that
balance precariously along seemingly sheer rock cliffs.
10. Iguazu National Park, Argentina and Brazil
The Iguazu National Park runs through Argentina and
into Brazil. It protects the subtropical rainforest here, as well as the
Iguazu Falls. The falls are actually made up of hundreds of waterfalls
around a curved cliff. Visitors to the falls can take a boat to get a
closer look or can walk through the various waterfalls by crossing
catwalks. The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including howler
monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, and caimans.
Around the world, countries are preserving their most fascinating and
historical areas. National parks protect the natural beauty and keep it
accessible for future generations. While all parks have something
lovely about them, the places on this list are some of the more amazing
ones out there. Have you ever visited any of these breathtakingly
beautiful parks? Do you know any other park to add to this list?
TOA MAONI YAKO HAPO CHINI
0 comments: