The most beautiful national parks of the United States. A PHOTO

In August 2016 years National Park Service The United States, which controls all major parks and many historical sites, will celebrate its centenary. However, the oldest parks and monuments of America appeared before the service that oversees them.

The world's first national park, Yellowstone, was founded on March 1, 1872. With an area of ​​almost 900 hectares, it is located on the territory of three American states - Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

The park is famous for its numerous geysers and other geothermal objects, rich in wildlife and picturesque landscapes. Park area - 898,3 thousand hectares

Creating national parks on agency website called "the best idea in American history." Moreover, as indicated, the author of this statement is the writer and historian Wallace Stegner.

Shortly after the opening of Yellowstone, other national parks began to appear in the United States, which led to the creation of the 25 National Park Service in August 1916.

At the moment, the agency oversees 409 parks in 50 states, the capital district of Columbia and in the territories controlled by the United States. This number includes battlefields, picturesque rivers, lakes, recreational areas, and even the White House.

The number of visitors to national parks is growing every year - at the end of 2015, more than 305 million people visited them (12 million more than the year before).

The first park that the US federal authorities took custody, in 1864, was Yosemite in California. Under Abraham Lincoln, the land on which the park is located was transferred to the state, and the status of Yosemite National Park received October 1 1890.

The park, which is located on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, is famous for its landscapes and nature - impressive granite cliffs, redwood groves and clear water rivers.

Other parks that received national status at the end of the 19th century included Makino in Michigan, Sequoia and Kings Canyon in California.

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