TO late XIX centuries, people began to understand that if they did not protect the environment, but only mercilessly exploit it, then in enough a short time will have time to destroy many species of flora and fauna. Part of this black work has already been done. In addition, our beautiful and diverse planet may lose its unique natural formations forever. For this reason, reserves and national parks of the world have appeared. Each state that has national parks strives to preserve their natural splendor and diversity. Moreover, in different countries, the forms national parks may vary, but they are all dedicated common idea conservation of nature for future generations who could be proud of their country. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are now 6,555 national parks in the world.

1. Greenland National Park

The largest in the world national park(972,000 sq. Km) is also the northernmost one. Its area exceeds the area of ​​163 countries of the world! It was founded in 1974. Apart from the staff of the national park, there are no other residents here. About 10 thousand musk oxen also live here, which is 40% of all these animals remaining in the world. Other inhabitants of the park are reindeer, polar bears, walruses, arctic hares and ermines. The sparse vegetation is represented by mosses and lichens, and only here and there dwarf willows and birches can be seen.

2. Kruger (South Africa)

In the national park them. The Kruger features the wilderness typical of South Africa. This is not only a very popular nature reserve among foreign travelers, but also profitable business bringing in considerable income. This is the oldest national park in South Africa, included in the UNESCO heritage, was founded in 1898 in the north-east of the country. Its area is 19,000 sq. km, and from end to end the distance is 340 km. It consists of three parts located in the valleys of the Oliphants and Sabi rivers. A curious kind of "unarmed" African safari is practiced in this reserve. In the huge national park, most of the animals are grouped in its central part. Among them: elephants, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, white rhinos, leopards, 17 species of antelope and over 400 species of birds.

It is difficult to scare a Russian person with anything, especially bad roads. Even safe routes claim thousands of lives a year, let alone those ...

3. Serengeti (Tanzania)

The Serengeti National Park is one of the largest (15,000 sq. Km) and the most famous on the planet, it has an almost complete ecosystem. This oldest nature reserve in Africa dates back to 1929. Its territory is home to almost 500 species of birds and 3 million of the largest mammals. Every year, impressive migrations of millions of wildebeest herds, hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles take place here, these living rivers cover a distance of more than 3000 km. The migration of zebras and wildebeests is explained by the fact that in the north of the park a drought begins, burning the grass, and in search of food, herbivorous ungulates rush to the cooler and wetter south. On the contrary, when the rainy season begins, the herds return to the north and west.
The Serengeti also boasts the largest lion population in Africa. Its inhabitants include elephants, hyenas, gazelles, rhinos and hippos. In the Maasai language, the name of the park means "endless plains" - and in fact, the vast savannah extends here mainly.

4. Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Located in the northwestern United States, Yellowstone National Park is very famous in the world, especially in last years... It includes the territories of several states at once: Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The national park was founded here in 1872, as there are a huge number of geysers and thermal springs. The large alpine Lake Yellowstone is located in the crater of America's largest supervolcano. A long time ago, this volcano has already erupted, so the surrounding area is covered with ancient lava.
Yellowstone is home to two-thirds of all geysers in the world - almost 3000, among them the largest in the world - "Steamer". The Old Faithful geyser is very famous for its regular eruptions, which throws boiling water to a height of 40 meters at intervals of 45-125 minutes. There are only five geyser fields in the world, located in Yellowstone, Kamchatka, Chile, Iceland and New Zealand. Yellowstone is densely packed with a variety of thermal springs, of which there are about 10,000 (that is, half of those in the world), are here mud volcanoes and sources of hydrogen sulfide.
The national park is home to hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and approximately 2000 species of vegetation.

There are areas on our planet where a person experiences special sensations: a surge of energy, euphoria, a desire to improve or spiritually ...

5. Snowdonia (UK)

This national park is located in the north of Wales. This is one of the first reserves in England and Wales, it was created 60 years ago. They named him after herself high summit Wales - Mount Snowdon, which has a height of 1085 m. The territory of the Snowdonia National Park lies not only on state but also on private lands. It is home to 26,000 people, and the number of tourists visiting it per year reaches 6 million. For them, 2381 km of open hiking trails have been laid in the park, there are also 264 km of trails for horse and hikers and 74 km of other trails. So, to the top of Snowdon, those who wish can climb the cable car or along the picturesque hiking trail with a length of 13 km. Also on the territory of the park there are old railway tracks.

6. Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

For the first time the term "Plitvice Lakes" was mentioned in the documents of 1777. In 1949, this place became a national park, and 30 years later, UNESCO added it to its heritage list. On its territory there are 16 large karst lakes, 20 caves and 140 waterfalls. This place is unique in that every year new waterfalls appear here and in general the landscape is constantly changing. The water in the lakes here has an amazingly beautiful azure color, so the photographs here turn out to be unusually spectacular. Along the 18 km long hiking trails along the shores of the lakes, wooden decks are arranged, from which it is convenient to observe the surrounding beauty and take pictures of it.
Several hiking trails are laid through the park, the journey along which can take either a couple of hours or 8 hours. There is a boat cruising along the lakes, and you can look at the mountains from an electric train with special carriages adapted for a better view. But it is forbidden to swim in the local lakes, bring dogs here, and have picnics with bonfires. Plitvice Lakes are also famous for their unique coniferous and beech forests, which have been growing here for many centuries and are able to recover.

There are a wide variety of dangerous places on our planet, which in recent times began to attract special category extreme tourists looking for ...

7. Fiordland (New Zealand)

This is the name of New Zealand's largest national park, which occupies most of the southwestern highlands on the South Island. The deepest lakes of the country and quite high and picturesque mountains reaching 2,746 m are located here. And now Fiordland remains an inaccessible area. There are many beauties here: rapid rivers with waterfalls, picturesque fjords, a rich and peculiar animal and vegetable world... The local dense forests are home to beautiful birds such as cockatoo parrots. In the local waters of the Pacific Ocean, you can find penguins or bottlenose dolphins.
The famous British writer Rudyard Kipling made the local Milford Sound famous by calling it "the eighth wonder of the world." Along its entire 18-kilometer stretch, the bay is framed by high peaks of mountains. This place is one of the dampest on the planet - it rains here every two days out of three.

8. Transboundary reserve Kavango-Zambezi

This reserve is unique in many ways. Spread over a vast area of ​​444,000 sq. km, it captures the territories of five countries at once: Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. There are no borders on the territory of the reserve itself, so animals can move freely throughout its territory. This largest African reserve includes a number of parks of individual states, for example, the Okavango Delta and Chobe.
In addition to the rich fauna, the territory of this reserve is home to world-famous sights, for example, the magnificent Victoria Falls. A transboundary reserve appeared recently - in 2011. The most important task of the five countries that organized it set the provision of opportunities for free migration for animals. But it has also become a very important and profitable tourist destination, because literally every day a new tourist group appears in this or that place of the endless reserve. First of all, travelers here are attracted by African elephants, which are home to almost half of all savannah elephants living in Africa. More than 600 species of flora, including unique ones, also grow on the lands of the reserve, and in the sky above the magnificent landscapes you can see 300 species of birds.

You can endlessly look at the flowing water. And if the water falls from a great height, then even more so. Fortunately, nature pampers us with such gorgeous ...

9. Papahanaumokuakea Marine Sanctuary (USA)

This reserve is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in the Hawaiian archipelago, including a group of its small islets and atolls. It has an area of ​​approximately 360,000 sq. km, making it the world's largest protected marine reserve. The Papahanaumokuakea nature reserve was founded recently - in 2006. On its islands there are exotic animals and plants, but not only these living objects living on land are valuable, but also luxurious coral reefs hidden under a layer of water, which form a unique system.
This name of the reserve did not appear immediately, but only a year after its formation - this is how they decided to celebrate the married couple of nature patrons - the local gods Uakea and Papakhanaumoku. For the indigenous people of Hawaii, these places have been sacred since ancient times, according to their beliefs, the souls of their dead relatives were sent here.
Archaeologists have investigated these islands and found that some of them were inhabited by humans in prehistoric times. For example, on the islands of Nihoa and Makumanamana, the remains of ancient settlements, in which people engaged in agriculture, lived. Within the Papahanaumokuakea, there was a tenth of the tropical shallow-water coral reefs belonging to the United States.

10. Limpopo Transboundary Park

This park also covers the territories of several African countries - South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Its area on this moment is about 37,000 sq. km, 10 different zones are distinguished on it. To date, the final boundary of the reserve has not yet been established, especially since its expansion is almost three times ahead. This transboundary park appeared only in 2000, and a year later the first animals appeared in it. Now elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and other African animals already live there.

National (natural) park- a protected area of ​​the territory (water area) with intact natural complex, often with unique objects (waterfalls, canyons, picturesque landscapes, etc.). Combines the conservation of landscapes with the admission of visitors for recreation. Considering that their purpose is mass tourism, natural parks have a significant area.

Currently, there are over a thousand national parks in the world.

Greenlandic

The largest national park in the world - Greenlandic- located in the northeast of Greenland. Its area is about 70 million hectares. This park, the only one in Greenland, is also the northernmost of all national parks in the world. The park is home to 40% of the world population of musk oxen. Among the protected animals also live here polar bear, walrus, arctic fox, ermine, lemming, arctic hare, various types of seals, seals, narwhals, whales, etc. Reindeer disappeared from the park back in 1990. Wolves often visit the park.

Yellowstone national park

The world's first national park was opened in 1872 in the United States. It was Yemouston national park located on the Yellowstone Plateau. The area of ​​the park is 898.3 thousand hectares. This is one of the oldest parks in the world. First of all, it is known for its hot springs. Geysers throw jets hot water and steam to a height of up to 90 m. Eruptions occur regularly at regular intervals. Water from geysers and hot springs rich in calcium and silicon, forms bizarre drip terraces that rise to considerable heights.

The park is home to 1,870 plant species, of which eight are conifers. Twisted broad-coniferous pine occupies 80% of all forest areas. Of deciduous trees, aspen, willow, birch (mostly in the undergrowth) are found more often than others. Among the flowering plants of the park, it should be noted the sand-loving abronia, or Yellowstone sandy verbena. This plant is found in the wild only within the boundaries of the park. There are about 60 species of mammals in the park, including rare ones: wolf, lynx, grizzly bear, American bison, black bear (baribal), wapiti deer, elk, black-tailed deer, snow goat, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, puma, etc.

Yellowstone National Park is a great tourist destination. It attracts up to 3 million visitors a year. All conditions have been created for them, various excursions and routes have been organized. But areas of untouched nature are still preserved. They have no roads and access is strictly limited. The park is considered a biosphere protected area. Thanks to Yellowstone National Park, the bison population was preserved and restored.

Komodo

One of the most interesting national parks in the world - Komodo National Park, which is located on several islands that make up the Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia). It is home to the world's only population of the world's largest lizard - the Komodo dragons (monitor lizards). They are covered with strong scales and have a rather long tail. The Komodo dragons have five toes each. According to some reports, it was these lizards that became the prototype of dragons, about which the Chinese sailors formed legends.

The national park is currently operating as a strict biosphere reserve. The habitat of the monitor lizard is also fully protected.

The world learned about the existence of this huge lizard in 1912, when one of the European pilots made an emergency landing here and told about what he had seen in his homeland. The Indonesian monitor lizard really makes a frightening impression: length - about 3.5 m, weight - up to 150 kg, a huge mouth with many teeth. Appearance lizards resemble extinct dinosaurs in many ways. The monitor lizard is a predator. He hunts wild deer and pigs, runs fast and swims well, is extremely voracious, easily eats 6 kg of meat at a time. The animal is undoubtedly unique, unparalleled in the world.

Serengeti

In the zone African savannah particularly famous Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. He owes this to the famous biologist, ecologist, writer, documentary filmmaker. Bernhard Grzimek(1907-1986). B. Grzimek wrote about the Serengeti in the following way: “Only virgin nature with its wild animals attracts tourists to Africa. If the wild fauna disappears here too, as it happened almost everywhere, then there will be no need for tourists to come here. " The Serengeti is characterized by huge herds of various ungulates. Wildebeests graze in the vast savannah along with zebras, gazelles and giraffes, and in dense thickets, Cairo buffaloes are found. All these animals are characterized by massive movements (migrations) following the rainy front during the year. Predators also wander behind the herds of ungulates. The number of ungulates within the park is currently estimated at hundreds of thousands of individuals, there are several thousand elephants, hundreds of lions, hippos, rhinos.

Swiss National Park

In Europe, the first national park was established in the canton of Graubünden. It bears the name Swiss National Park. The park was founded on August 1, 1914 on an area of ​​172.4 km 2. It includes the Alps at an altitude between 1400-3174 m above sea level on the border with Austria and Italy. The park is famous for its unique and diverse flora and fauna, as well as absolutely untouched nature. The predominant landscapes are mountainous coniferous forests and alpine meadows. Roe deer and chamois live here, less often Alpine ibex and fox; There are also deer, marmots, ptarmigan, capercaillie and several species of birds of prey.

Corbett

Corbett- the oldest national park India, it was founded during the English colonial rule in 1935 and occupies about 52 thousand hectares in the valley of the Ramganta River, which flows from the southern slopes Himalayas. The hilly plain of the park (height from 400 to 900 m) is covered with forests. During the wet monsoon, vast reservoirs are often formed in the valley, overgrown with aquatic vegetation. This is the habitat of the giant gavial, or swamp crocodile. The crocodile family lives on Earth for about 150 million years. For many years, these reptiles were actively exterminated in order to obtain valuable skin. Now crocodiles for industrial needs are bred in special nurseries, and in nature they are almost universally protected.

The main object of protection in the national park - Tiger. The number of tigers in India in the 1930-1950s decreased sharply due to uncontrolled shooting by both colonialists and local poachers. Back in the 1960s. the government of India has launched a large-scale operation "Tiger" aimed at preserving and restoring the population of this animal. The main events took place in the Korbstt park. Now the number of tigers is close to optimal.

The park is also home to several species of Asian deer, sloth bear, more than 400 bird species. For a long time, the park was rarely visited by tourists due to the difficult transport accessibility.

In the late 1970s. a modern highway has been laid from the capital of India, Delhi, and the park is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Central Kalaharsky Nature Reserve

In the desert zone, let us name the Central Kalahari Nature Reserve in South Africa. It was founded in 1957. Its area is 5 million hectares. Unlike national parks, which can be visited by tourists, only scientists are allowed to be in the reserves. Local Bushmen tribes live in the Central Kalaharsky Nature Reserve, who conduct their traditional economy. The main object of protection in the reserve is a unique plant - Velvichia.

Velvichia has a thick tree trunk 30 cm long and looks like a giant flower with huge petals, which are actually the leaves of this plant. In a hot desert, where water is life, Velvichia absorbs moisture from the air with its huge leaves, collects dew, "drinks" the fog.

Yosemite national park

Yosemite national park was established in USA in 1890, has an area of ​​more than 300 thousand hectares, located on the western slopes of the mountains Sierra Nevada. Mountain peaks rise here by almost 4 thousand meters. There are many waterfalls on mountain rivers. With an abundance of precipitation, ancient dark coniferous forests consist of many types of spruce, pine, and fir. More than 250 species of typical taiga mammals and birds are represented. But the main glory of the national park was brought by the preserved sections of the giant sequoia. Individual trees of this species, which are several thousand years old, reach a height of 150 m with a trunk diameter of 10 m. The wood of the sequoia is reddish in color, very light, but at the same time hard, durable, slightly susceptible to decay. It is believed that in the Tertiary period, sequoia was widespread throughout the Earth, but now, after many years of predatory extermination, areas of virgin forests are very rare and strictly protected. In botanical gardens, it is found almost all over the world.

Banff and Jasper

On South Canadian Rockies there are two large national parks Banff and Jasper. Banff Park, with an area of ​​about 700 thousand hectares, was created in 1885. To the north of it begins Jasper Park (an area of ​​more than 1 million hectares), founded in 1907.The height of the Rocky Mountains within the parks reaches 3,700 m. mountain taiga. Glaciers, snowfields, waterfalls and hot springs are not uncommon in the highly dissected Slope Mountains (they began to be used for swimming in the 19th century).

The coniferous forests are dominated by mountain spruce, seaside pine, Douglas fir (up to 45 m high). Deer, black bears, black-tailed deer, mountain sheep, and many birds are common among the large animals of mountain forests.

One of the most unusual animals in the Rocky Mountains is the snow goat, found only here. It is an animal with a dense, long white six, similar to a domestic goat. Lives in the alpine zone, rarely going down into the woods. Well adapted to life in the mountains, capable of jumping 6-7 m on barely noticeable mountain ledges. The animal is very rare, now work is underway to increase its number, and in the future - to domesticate it. Both national parks are biosphere reserves and successfully combine wildlife conservation with tourism.

Virunga

Almost in the very center of Africa, right at the equator, located Virunga National Park. It was created in 1915, covers an area of ​​more than 20 thousand hectares and is located in the north-west of a small African state Rwanda, on the southern slopes of the volcanic mountains Virunga. There are several cones of extinct volcanoes up to 4500 m high in the park. Virunga is located just south of the equator, and its landscapes are dominated by humid equatorial and mountain forests and shrubs. The main object of protection is the mountain gorilla - the largest apes.

Blue Mountains Park

Northwest of Sydney, on a mountain plateau, dissected by deep gorges, is one of the largest national parks in the southeastern Australia - Blue Mountains Park("Blue Mountains") with an area of ​​200 thousand hectares. It was created in 1959. The Blue Mountains are a part of the Great Dividing Range, the highest heights here do not exceed 1200 m. In places, tower-like columnar sandstone outliers have been preserved, and waterfalls are not uncommon on small rivers. Along the river valleys, there are dense forests of blue eucalyptus, acacias, mint trees, and tree ferns.

Here platypuses, possums, giant gray kangaroos have survived, among the birds - the Wong's pigeon, lyrebird, fan-tails, yellow flycatchers. It should be noted that the flora and fauna of Australia is not rich, but very peculiar: 9/10 of the flora and fauna of the mainland cannot be found in any other area of ​​the globe. It is this peculiarity that arouses great interest among scientists and requires the most stringent protection measures. In the Blue Mountains Park they managed to do it. There are many places left inaccessible, completely untouched, where no tourist has yet set foot.

Rancho Grande

Rancho Grande- the first national park Venezuela- was created in 1937. It occupies an area of ​​about 90 thousand hectares on the spurs of the Venezuelan Andes, facing the Caribbean Sea, absolute heights - up to 2500 m. The altitudinal zonation is well represented here with an abundance of various tropical forests. High moisture content (about 1700 mm of precipitation per year) determines the richness of the fauna, especially dwarf palms, orchids, ferns, and lianas. The national park is famous for its rare birds: more than 30 species of hummingbirds (the weight of the largest individuals of these tiny birds does not exceed 5 g), parrots, guajaro (a rare bird of the goat family, usually nesting in deep caves in numerous colonies, is active at night). The largest venomous snake on Earth is found here - a giant rattlesnake, reaching 3.5 m in length. Among mammals, bakers, sloths, capuchin monkeys (so named for the black crest on their heads), nosed raccoons, and jaguars are common.

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands are located directly at the equator in Pacific, west of South America and owned by the state Ecuador. All islands with total area about 10 thousand hectares were declared a national park in 1934. The archipelago has about 15 volcanic islands, of which five are large, the highest points of which rise to an altitude of 1700 m. Volcanic activity continues to this day. The islands are washed by a cold current, and the temperature of the water and air here is relatively low for the equator +21 ... + 25 ° С. Vegetation is poor: mainly cacti and thorny shrubs. Nevertheless, the Galapagos are extremely interesting for science, it was here that he began to conduct his research Charles Darwin in 1835

There are many amazing animals on the islands: penguins, who came here from Antarctica thanks to the cold current; flightless cormorants, giant turtles, marine iguanas, galapagos sea lion.

Galapagos turtles - huge animals with a shell length of up to 1.5 m and a mass of 200 kg - were exterminated by humans for their delicious and nutritious meat. Now the turtles are under protection, their number is increasing.

The marine iguana is the only species of lizard whose entire life is associated with a narrow coastal zone shallow water and a strip of coast. This large reptile, up to 1.5 m long, swims well, eats algae and more.

Galapagos National Park has a strict regime: it is forbidden to visit the islands by tourists, any economic activity, the import of foreign plants and animals. The International Biological Station has been operating here since 1964. Thus, the Galapagos Islands are more correctly considered a biosphere reserve.

There are so many on earth beautiful places, where you really want and need to visit at least once! National parks can be called the pinnacle of the joint creativity of God and man: nature has created - but people have not spoiled and continue to protect these incredibly beautiful corners of the planet.

Of the hundreds of the most beautiful nature reserves of the world to choose the very best, perhaps, it is impossible. But we tried, we took a chance - and in 2013 Holiday M presents 13 the most picturesque National Parks on the planet!

13. Tikal National Park, Guatemala

Tikal- the strongest Mayan city in Guatemala and one of the most mystical and mysterious places land.

Name Tikal in the Mayan language means "the place where the voices of the spirits are heard." Indeed, to this day, in one of the largest settlements Mayan, the capital of the Mutul kingdom, to this day you can hear the voices of residents who left the city at the end of the 10th century.

Park from prying eyes hidden deep in the jungle. Fantastic ruins of a Mayan settlement, which date back to about 250 - 900 AD, are full of unique architecture: ritual sites, temples, palaces, castles and various wild animals. By the way, it was the ruins of Tikal Park that were used as a background, as a rebel base in Hollywood Star Wars.

12. Zhangjiajie National Park and Yellow Dragon Scenic Area, China

Zhangjiajie is the oldest national park in China and perhaps the most remarkable. Opened in 1982, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site ten years later.

The Yellow Dragon Conservation Area is located in the northwest of Sichuan in the highlands. Huanglong Scenic Area is an ecosystem with waterfalls, hot springs, mountain gorges, blue lakes, virgin forests and snow on the tops of the hills.

The protected area is famous for its high mountain ranges and unique caves. One of the most beautiful of them - unique Huanglong cave (Yellow Dragon Cave) in Sosiyu Reserve. A four-tiered cave 15 km long. includes a lake, two rivers, 13 halls and about 96 galleries cluttered with stalactites and stalagmites of striking shapes and sizes. So one of them, with a diameter of 10 cm, reaches 19.2 m in height!

11. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Nothing can compare with the splendor of the wild nature of Africa, and is a vivid confirmation of this.

In 1884, the President of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger, initiated the creation of a conservation area in Lowvelde. And on May 31, 1926, on the basis of the Sabi and Shingwedzi hunting reserves, the Kruger Park was created, which became the first national park in South Africa. Hardly any other national park beats the Kruger Park for its pristine countryside, wildlife and vastness.

Kruger National Park provides the best safari in the world. In one place you can see the largest mammals, a large number of birds and large predators.

The park is considered the most profitable national park in the world - about 1 million tourists visit it annually.

As part of the Kruger-tou-Canyons Biosphere Reserve, established in 2001, it is included in.

10. Lake Manyara National Park (Lake Manyara National Park), Tanzania

In the Great Rift Valley, northern Tanzania, at an altitude of 950 m above sea level, around an extraordinarily beautiful lakes Manyara, in the heart of a green forest, between the rocks is located National a park Manyara.

The park is located on northern Tanzania, an hour and a half west of Arusha.

Manyara lake reserve- a picturesque gem in a setting UNESCO: in 1981, the park was included in the worldwide network of biosphere reserves.

9. Swiss National Park, Switzerland

Although Switzerland is known for its magical Alps, there is only one national park to offer tourists. But what a!

It is located in the east of Switzerland, in the Engadine Valley, including a vast area of ​​the Alps.

The park is considered one of the oldest in Central Europe - it was created in 1914. In 1979 it was included in the list of biosphere reserves UNESCO together with the adjoining Italian national park Stelvio.

The history of the park is interesting and instructive. By 1909, during the "industrialization", the resources of this territory rich in forests and minerals were completely destroyed by man. Then, in 1914, it was decided to ban economic activity on this territory and to trace the ability of nature to heal itself and no nature restoration activities were carried out in the park. However, now it is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the world, which is visited by about 150 thousand people a year.

Mountain rivers, peaks of snow peaks, picturesque valleys, rich flora and fauna attract tourists to serenely enjoy the beauty of Alpine nature at its best ...

Is this not a silent appeal: "People, take care of me!"

8. Kakadu National Park, Australia

The uniqueness of this Australian natural miracle is given by the rocks and ledges surrounding it on all sides, which shield the park itself from the outside world and the outside world from it. In addition, since 1981, the park has also been protected. UNESCO.

National Kakdu park is located in the Northern Territory of Australia. He got his name by no means in honor of everyone's favorite crested parrot. It is named after the Kakadu Aboriginal tribe that lives here to this day. In addition to the abundance of plants, insects, reptiles, birds, animals and fish, there are also two caves on the territory of the Kakadu National Park, the walls of which are decorated with ancient rock paintings dating from about the 16th millennium BC.

7. Snowdonia National Park(Snowdonia), UK, Wales

Snowdonia National Park was established in 1951 and became one of the first three national parks of England and Wales... In just 60 years, Snowdonia has built a reputation as one of the most beautiful national parks in the world!

These are mountain landscapes of indescribable beauty and wide sandy beaches, monasteries and ancient castles, dense forests and crystal clear lakes. Here they get along wonderfully harmoniously untouched nature, unique Celtic culture and developed tourist infrastructure.

6. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park,Australia

Not far from Uluru is the Kata-Tjuta rocky formation (which means "many heads"). And together they are one of the most beautiful National Parks in the world, the symbol and heart of Australia.

In 1987 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was included in list World heritage UNESCO... In 1995 he received Gold medal Picasso - the highest award of UNESCO,for the conservation of nature and culture of the Anangu Aborigines... Today, many of them work in the park as guides and tour guides for tourist groups.

5. Historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary), Peru

The secrets of the mystical Inca Empire excite the minds of historians, researchers and adventurers from all over the world. Machu-Picchu, especially after receiving the status UNESCO World Heritage Site, became a center of mass tourism - per day 2000 tourists visit this ancient city!

Machu Picchu is sometimes called "the city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", but more often - " lost city Inca ". The majestic Machu Picchu is located in the hard-to-reach places of the mountainous regions of Peru: at an altitude of 2430 m above sea level, in the center of the rainforest. Railway from Cusco to the neighboring town of Aguas Calientes. More than ten trains a day run through Ollantaytambo, along a picturesque route.

More about one of the New Wonders of the World - the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, you can find out

(Everglades National Park), Florida, USA

"There are no majestic peaks rushing to the sky, no mighty glaciers or seething streams ... This place has a special serene beauty ... thanks to the richness of the local nature, we can see here the richness of flora and fauna that distinguishes this corner of nature from all the rest in our country." - said President Harry Truman at the ceremony in honor of the opening of the park. And in 1979, the organization committee UNESCO supported his words by adding Everglades to the list objects The World heritage.

3. (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park), California, USA

Anza-Borrego is a huge nature reserve, the most large park in the state of California.

During the gold rush of 1849. tens of thousands of gold prospectors passed through the Anza-Borrego desert. Today, the blooming desert delights visitors with its virgin nature, where you can get acquainted with the unique ecology, its steep gorges and barren eroded strongly rugged terrain.

Every year, in March-April, thousands of tourists come here to watch the miraculous transformation of a lifeless desert into a blooming paradise.
Read more

2. National Park Iguazu (Spanish. Parque nacional Iguazú), South America

National a parkIguazu is located in the ecological region "Atlantic Forests of Parana" and invariably delights tourists with an incredible variety of flora and fauna. But main task Created in 1934, the park was and remains the preservation of one of the most beautiful places in South America - the waterfalls on the Iguazu River, surrounded by subtropical jungle.

Iguaçu in the language of the Tupi Guarani Indians - big water... The park partially contains one of natural monuments South America and one of the most beautiful waterfalls World - Iguazu Falls.

Waterfalls are on the border Argentine and Brazilian national parks « Iguazu". Both parks were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively.

), Arizona, USA

The most grandiose, and, perhaps, one of the most interesting and unique corners of the Earth - USA National ParkGrand Canyon.

The park occupies an area of ​​about 5 thousand square meters. km was founded in 1908 to protect the unique natural education- the gorge of the Colorado River, which is located in its middle reaches. The Grand Canyon is one of the most unusual places on our planet, which represents as many as 4 geological eras of the Earth!

In fact, the Grand Canyon is neither the largest nor the deepest in the world - it is prized primarily for its harmonious combination of size, depth, and multicolored layers of outcrops, formed over millions of years of erosion and weathering.

Now it is one of the main tourist destinations in the United States - the grandiose scale of the canyon and its bizarre remnants of the most fantastic forms attract more than 2 million people to the Grand Canyon National Park every year. And of course this is one of the most delightful observation decks of the world !

Walks are especially popular with tourists. over the Grand Canyon by helicopter... Fly by helicopter on this exciting 3-hour excursion above Grandee-Canyon enjoying the stunning landscapes and wonderful views.

Borneo orangutan rehabilitation center - a lesson in humanity for humans

See prices for tours to the best National stamps of the world

The diversity of wildlife is the guarantee of our well-being.

The nature of our planet is amazingly rich and diverse. The world is full of amazing creations. Where man does not interfere, nature lives and is formed according to the perfect laws established by the Creator. But with the advent of civilization, everything changes. Unfortunately, since time immemorial, man has killed animals and cut down forests. Over time, people populated almost the entire planet. As a result of human activity, many plants and animals have lost their habitats or even disappeared from the face of the Earth.

The goals of creating national parks.

The main goal of creating national parks and reserves is to protect living organisms balancing on the brink of extinction. Without protected areas, elephants, rhinos, bison and bison would have remained only in zoos, and some animals, for example, the Komodo dragons - giant lizards that live only in the Komodo National Park (on the island of the same name), would have disappeared altogether. However, despite their common name, each national park was created for its own specific purpose.

Introduction

1. The purpose of creating national parks

2. Rationale for the choice of topic

3. The main idea of ​​work

4 Main part

• National parks of the world
• Paanajärvi National Park
• National Park "Taganay"
• Zabaikalsky National Park
• Olympic National Park
• Yellowstone national park
• Monteverde National Park

5. Information sources

Main part

A national park is an area where human activities are limited in order to protect the environment.

Unlike nature reserves, where human activity is almost completely prohibited (hunting, tourism, etc. are prohibited), tourists are allowed on the territory of national parks, and economic activities are allowed on a limited scale.

There are over 1000 national parks in the world. There are 29 of them in Russia.

Paanajärvi National Park. Russia.

Paanajärvi National Park is located in the north-west of the Republic of Karelia, in its most elevated part. Paanajärvi National Park was established on May 20, 1992 by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation. The area of ​​the national park is 104,473 hectares.

The flora is the main attraction of the park. Its originality is determined by three factors - the low-mountainous nature of the relief, the presence of carbonate rocks (dolomites) favorable for the growth of many calciphilic plants and, finally, the presence of large natural massifs untouched by man.

In the area of ​​the national park, 217 species of vertebrates are registered: 36 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians and reptiles, 17 species of fish and 1 species of cyclostomes.

The pearl of the park is Lake Paanajärvi, characterized by its small size (1.5 x 24 km) and exceptional depth (128 m). There are many rapids on the rivers, there are significant waterfalls. The reservoirs abound in valuable species of fish.

The natural and historical value of the park is unique. Beautiful landscapes, rich flora and fauna, the opportunity to relax in pristine silence, rich fishing - all this attracts tourists, scientists, researchers, photographers, and many nature lovers to visit the park. Currently, the national park receives about 2.5 thousand visitors a year. It is planned to increase the number of tourists in the next three years to 6-8 thousand per year.

National Park "Taganay" (Russia)

Taganay National Park was established in 1991. It is located in the western part of the Chelyabinsk region, on the territory of the Zlatoust and Kusinsky administrative districts. The length of the park from north to south is 52 km, from west to east on average 10-15 km.

The Taganai National Park is located in one of the most unique corners of the Southern Urals - in the Taganai mountainous area, just north of the ancient Ural city of Zlatoust. Many valuable ecological systems - mountain tundra and meadows - have been preserved here almost intact.

The flora contains about 800 species of higher vascular plants, of which 28 are rare and endangered. Roe deer, wild boar, elk, beaver, brown bear, lynx, wolf, marten, ermine, weasel, otter live.

On the territory of the national park there are ancient mineral mines, the riches of which are presented in the collections of many mineralogical museums both in Russia and abroad. swampy swamps, tundra and small taiga, the place is perhaps one of the most beautiful in the South Urals.

Zabaikalsky National Park (Russia)

The Zabaikalsky National Park was founded in 1986 on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia in order to preserve the unique natural complex of the Lake Baikal basin. The national park is located on the east coast of the lake. Baikal, in the central part of the Republic of Buryatia, on the territory of the Barguzinsky district. In the north, the territory of the Barguzin State Natural Biosphere Reserve adjoins the border of the national park.

The flora includes many endemic, rare and relict plants. According to preliminary estimates, the flora of the park is more than 700 species of vascular plants. Habitats of many species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, 19 endemic species, 9 rare species on Lake Baikal are noted here.

On the territory of the national park, 291 species of terrestrial vertebrates are registered: 44 species of mammals, 241 - birds, 3 - reptiles and 3 species of amphibians. The most common types of mammals of medium and large sizes: white hare, squirrel, muskrat, sable, ermine, brown bear, red deer, elk. 49 species of terrestrial vertebrates found in the park are listed in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation.

Olympic National Park. (USA)

Olympic National Park is located in the northwestern part of the United States, in the state of Washington, famous for its amazing nature. The total area of ​​the park is 350,000 hectares. Here, in the Pacific fog that envelops the coast and forest, they hide big trees as well as a broken coastline. The climate of this area is one of the wettest on the planet. The park has mountains with snow-capped peaks and slowly sliding glaciers, as well as rain forests, as mysterious and dark as the rainforests in the Amazon region.

In 1788, an English captain named the highest of these mountains (its height is almost 2,500 meters) Olympus in honor of the legendary home of the mythical gods of Ancient Greece. And in 1938, in order to preserve the integrity of the virgin nature of these places, the Olympic National Park was created.

Virunga National Park (Africa)

Virunga is one of the oldest national parks in Africa. It is located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For 300 kilometers, the park's border coincides with the state borders of Rwanda and Uganda. The year of official birth of Virunga Park is considered to be 1929. Then it was named Albert and Kivu National Park. In 1969, a separate Virunga National Park was allocated from a single nature conservation object Albert and Kivu.

Currently, the park is bordered by the lands of the Ruzvenzori National Park in Uganda and the Volcano National Park in Rwanda. Several years ago, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda launched an initiative to establish a transboundary biosphere reserve in the border area, which was to include Virunga National Park.

The area of ​​Virunga National Park is 790 thousand hectares. The landscapes in the national park are very diverse. Here you can find grassy and woody savannas, low-growing constantly wet forests, bamboo thickets, swamps, meadows and glaciers.

Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Yellowstone National Park - Founded by the US Congress in 1872, it became the first national park in the country. The park covers almost 900 thousand hectares and is located mainly on the lands of Wyoming.

The main attractions of the park - geysers and Mammoth hot springs - make a huge number of tourists from all over the world flock here.

In terms of their grandeur, the Yellowstone geysers are considered unsurpassed. The colossal power of the geysers is difficult to imagine - some of them throw out about 5 thousand tons of water at a time to a height of up to 100 meters. Each ejection lasts for several seconds, then the water column falls and the geyser dies down until the next time.

Another attraction of the park is the Mammoth Hot Springs. Over the centuries and millennia, hot waters, saturated with various chemical impurities, have formed deposits of complex and varied shapes - streaks, stepped terraces, pyramids and even something like stalactites that suggest a cave located on the surface of the earth.

Most of the park is occupied by coniferous forests, in which many animals that are close to extinction in other areas have found refuge.

Here you can find black, bison, elk and deer, as well as many smaller animals and a huge number of birds.

Monteverde National Park (Costa Rica)

In the 1960s, a group of scientists and local residents founded the Cloud Forest Sanctuary in Monteverde, which eventually included the watershed zone. Since then, the reserve has expanded several times, and now it covers approximately 10,500 hectares.

This reserve is one of the most attractive locations in Costa Rica. Every year, about 50,000 tourists climb the steep, winding dirt road to get to Monteverde. Numerous birdwatchers and naturalists come here to observe all kinds of birds, animals and plants that have taken refuge in the reserve and surrounding areas.

Conclusion

In the 20th and 19th centuries, environmental pollution has become a real problem for almost the entire planet. Waste can enter underground water systems and cause serious harm to human and animal health. "We don't know what to do with all the chemicals produced by modern industry," admitted a Hungarian scientist from the Budapest Institute of Hydrology. "We can't even keep track of them."

Our goal is to preserve unique geothermal phenomena, herb prairies, unique glaciers, spectacular views, and an abundance of life forms.

Information sources

1. www.nparks.ru
2. www.vokrugsveta.ru
3. Discs - Golden Globes “US National Parks
4. Dorysheva V. A. "National parks and reserves"
5. Zaikin S. N. "Wonders of the World"
6. Marchenkova A. V. “This wonderful world”
7. Shcherbakov V. I. "National parks of the world"

For the next generation, they also provide an opportunity for relaxation for nature lovers. National parks are created to preserve and protect their unsurpassed landscapes, including oceans, seas, lakes, forests, jungles and mountains, as well as the living organisms that live in these corners of nature. From Africa's vast lowland grasslands to striking glaciers in South America, national parks have something unique to offer. This article presents ten of the most beautiful national parks in the world, filled with scenic beauty of pristine nature.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

In the center of the Croatian capital is the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The beauty of this park is created by sixteen lakes connected by a series of waterfalls, cascades and kilometer-long trails. The national park covers about 300 square kilometers, and the area of ​​the lakes is about 2 km². This national park is home to wild bears, deer, wolves, wild boars and rare species birds. Tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the view of the lake from an 18-kilometer wooden footbridge surrounded by clouds different types butterflies flying through rumbling waters.

Arches National Park, USA

Arches National Park contains the largest concentration of natural red sandstone in the world. The park is located on an area of ​​over 300 km² and has more than 2000 arches (including the world famous "Graceful Arch"), formed as a result of natural erosion processes. Arches National Park has many striking geological features such as cliffs, massive sandstone strata and spiraling peaks that attract millions of tourists from around the world every year. The arches are rich in gnarled juniper trees that bloom from April to July. Few species of animals live in the sandstone, such as the mule deer, the American rabbit, the fox, the kangaroo jumper and the mule hare.

Kaziranga National Park, India

Kaziranga National Park is one of the most popular holiday destinations in India. Spread over 430 km², Kaziranga is surrounded by tall elephant grass, swampy lagoons and dense lagoons. The park is home to 2,200 endangered Indian one-horned rhinos, which is about 2/3 of the total population of the species. A significant part of the park is the Brahmaputra river basin. Undoubtedly, the park is known for its abundant wildlife, providing shelter and food for Indian, wild Asian buffaloes, Bengal tigers and barasinga deer. In addition to wild mammals, India's most revered birds can also be found here, including white-fronted geese, white-eyed duck, etc.

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Indonesia is home to Komodo National Park, which is often ranked among the top ten places on the planet to visit. The park includes three large islands: Komodo, Rincha and Padar. Komodo National Park is home to the world's largest lizards - the Komodo monitor lizards - which usually grow up to 3 m in length and weigh more than 80 kg. The beauty of the park is: panoramic views of the savannah, tropical rain forest, clear blue ocean and crystal sandy beaches. Komodo has the richest and most amazing underwater marine biota, which makes the park the best diving destination on Earth. The waters surrounding the islands are stormy and full of varied.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile / Argentina

The outstanding national park of Torres del Paine is located on 2,420 km² of land and is visited by over 150,000 tourists annually, making it the most visited national park in Chile. Blue icebergs can be seen here, from the Glaciar Gray Glacier and the South Patagonian Glacial Plateau. The most distinctive landscapes of Torres del Paine are three granite peaks that rise to an altitude of 2500 m at sea level. The granite peaks, along with the surrounding rivers, lakes and valleys, form a national park that is Chile's most majestic and stunning natural feature.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Fiordland National Park is the largest in New Zealand and is characterized by its stunning natural features and the exceptional beauty of the landscapes. This is the only place overlooking the snowy Mountain peaks, sparkling fjords, snow-capped valleys, icy lakes and rivers nestled within rainforests. Fiordland is home to rare bird takahe, which was thought to be extinct, but was later re-discovered in 1948 in Fiordland Park. It is also known to be the only refuge for the flightless kakapo parrot.

Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda

The Kidepo Valley is one of the most remote national parks in the world and covers an area of ​​1,442 km². Only a small number of tourists visit this place. However, the spectacular beauty of this unspoiled wilderness makes it one of the most unique destinations in Africa. The national park has 475 different types birds, second only to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is home to some of the rarest African birds such as Apalis karamojae and Lybius rolleti... In addition to stunning birds, it is home to the smallest ethnic group in Africa, the Ik tribe.

Jiuzhaigou National Park, China

Jiuzhaigou National Park is considered an amazing natural wonder of China, located on an area of ​​720 km². More than 2 million tourists come to the park annually to admire the turquoise lakes, multi-level waterfalls, dense forests and snow-capped mountains. Jiuzhaigou National Park is located near the border of the Tibetan Plateau, in the Sichuan province. The park, a masterpiece of nature, is a habitat for more than 220 species of birds and endangered animals such as roxellan rhinopithecus and others. No other national park has such fabulous landscapes and natural purity as Jiuzhaigou.

Banff National Park, Canada

Banff covers 6,641 km² and is considered the most popular national park among tourists from all over the world. It is adjacent to the magnificent Canadian Rockies. Millions of visitors visit the site each year to admire the turquoise waters of Lake Louise, walk the nature trail through flower-filled meadows, and swim among the jagged peaks of the ice fields. Snow-capped mountain peaks, shimmering glaciers and sweeping panoramas are part of the charm of the magnificent Banff National Park.

Galapagos National Park, Ecuador

Galapagos National Park covers an area of ​​almost 8 thousand km². It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The park consists of a spectacular archipelago of volcanic islands. The landscape includes the magnificent lush green vegetation of the Santa Cruz Highlands and the most beautiful landscapes of Bartolomé Island. On Galapagos Islands there are some of the world's rarest animals, including the famous Galapagos turtles, sea iguanas, blue-footed boobies and Galapagos penguins. Galapagos is the only national park in the world where wild animals are not afraid of people, but curious sea ​​lions even enjoy swimming next to a person.

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