California national park. Yosemite national park

Informative article about the most beautiful National and natural parks California state photo, short background information.

1 | Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua Tree National Park

This quaint park is located in the Mojave Desert in the very southern state of California, 2 hours from Los Angeles... The site is located at an ecological crossroads between the High Mojave Desert and the Low Colorado Desert. The result is an amazing flora of the desert, namely wonderful trees, a variety of yucca called Joshua Tree (Joshua tree). The sunsets are especially bright here - at this time the desert is especially beautiful.

Joshua Tree Park

Distance from Los Angeles - 200 km. or 2 hours on the way by car.

2 | Yosemite National Park

Probably, most beautiful park California, which in 1984 became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its waterfalls and granite monoliths, towering a kilometer above the surface of the park. 4 million visitors a year - the numbers speak for themselves, the size of the park is about 285 thousand hectares.

Yosemite lies on the Nevada border in northeastern California.

Distance from Los Angeles - 450 km. Or 4.5 hours on the way

Distance from San Francisco - 265 km. or 3 hours on the way

How to rent a car while traveling in the USA?

Among the natural attractions, the most famous is the so-called Death Valley - the lowest point on earth at a geographical level. Not far from it is the highest point in America - Mount Whitney. There are seven large national parks in the state, which are worth visiting for all lovers. hiking and outdoor recreation. Yosemite national park, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, Redwood Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon Park - each of these reserves is amazing and unique.

Death Valley USA: the hottest and driest place on the planet

The Valley of Death has such a harsh name not because of its red-hot desert lifelessness. According to legend, the name of this place was given by gold diggers during the Gold Rush, deciding that it was an excellent shortcut to California. In 1849 large group gold prospectors, now called "forty-ninths," set out from Salt Lake City to seek their fortune in the gold mines recently found in California. The group decided not to spend the winter in Salt Lake City, as most did. A small group broke away from this group, deciding to shorten the path through Death Valley.

According to one version, almost the entire group died in Death Valley. According to the other, the group passed through Death Valley in December, having found water in as many as three places, and only one seriously ill old man died, who was already breathing in an incense.

According to any version, not everyone survived this transition, and when the group left the valley, impressed by the death of their fellow tribesmen (tribesman), someone said: "Farewell, Death Valley."

Now Death Valley is the most large park in America, 95% of which are wild uninhabited places. It is also the hottest and dry place on the planet. Visits are only recommended during the winter months, as temperatures rise above 120 Fahrenheit (49 C) in summer. Only the Sahara managed to beat these temperatures by 2 degrees only once. The earth heats up to 80 (27 C) Fahrenheit stronger than air and sometimes rises to 200 (93 C) degrees!

Dry air and scarce plant life allow the sun to constantly heat the desert, the surface gives off heat to the atmosphere and it never leaves the valley, since the mountains (5500-11000 feet = 1770-3350 m) do not let it go. Having descended, these air masses are compressed by atmospheric pressure (the valley is below sea level), heated even more and travel by hot winds across the desert. Sometimes it rains here (no more than 2 inches = 5 cm per year), but the land is so dry that it simply does not accept water. Water mixes with sand and rocks and flows down in huge muddy rivers, sweeping away everything in its path. This happens very quickly and you can see the Flash Flood Area icons on the roads. Then the water evaporates very quickly, never bringing liberation to these dry lands.

More about Death Valley National Park

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is a place that is recognized as one of the most beautiful on our planet.

Yosemite National Park has many natural wonders - lakes and waterfalls, giant sequoias and woodlands, caves, granite monoliths and mountain peaks.

The main attractions of Yosemite National Park National park):

• Yosemite Valley;
• Yosemite Falls with a height of 739 m is the most high waterfall in North America and the sixth highest waterfall in the world;
• Ribbon Stream is one of the waterfalls from the very high point unimpeded water fall;
• Half Dome granite rock with a height of more than 1500 meters;
• El Capitan is the largest granite monolith;
• Twin Peaks Three Brothers;
• Mariposa Grove - a forest of giant sequoias;
• In summer, you can also climb Glacier Point for a stunning panorama of the park.

Pictured above is the Wawona Tree, also known as the Wawona Tunnel Tree, a giant sequoia 227 ft (69 m) high and 90 ft in diameter (27 m) native to Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park. The tunnel was cut in 1881, the work was carried out by 2 people, each of whom was paid $ 75 for the work. The tree fell in 1969, unable to withstand the weight of a 2-ton snow cap, at that time the tree was 2,300 years old.

On the territories of the United States of America, there are a huge number of national parks and reserves, and a year a system US national parks visited by up to 300 million people. Yellowstone became the first national park here in 1872.

Everything reserves of America very picturesque and unique, and today in sightseeing tour we will visit some of them.

1. Redwood National Park, California State. The park is covered with ancient sequoia forests:

2., located in the western United States in the northwestern part of Wyoming. The park owes its name mountain range Teton ( highest peak- Peak Grand Teton, height 4198 meters) - the youngest mountain formation in the North American continent, whose age is 13 million years:

3. Zion National Park in Utah, near the town of Springdal. The main attraction is the Zion Canyon, 24 km long and up to 800 meters deep:

4. Petrified Forest National Park("Petrified Forest") is located in the east of Arizona and covers about 380 km 2. On its territory you can see many fossils, mainly trees, which are more than two hundred million years old. Here is a lizard sitting on a fossilized tree trunk that is 225 million years old:

5. North Cascades National Park, Washington . The park is located in mountain system Cascade Range, which got its name from the large number of waterfalls found here. Thanks to the safety unique nature, the park is inhabited by a large number of wild animals:

6. Grand Canyon Park, Arizona. This is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. The park is home to the Grand Canyon - the Great Canyon of the Colorado River, one of the recognized natural wonders of the world. This is one of deepest canyons in the world (up to 1600 meters). Magnificent waterfall:

7. Badlands National Park, South Dakota. The landscape of the park includes steep hills, peaked cliffs and peaks, and the largest protected prairies in the United States (steppe areas with tall grass vegetation):

8. There are many gorges, mountains and river valleys that are part of the desert landscape:

9. Yosemite National Park, California. Famous for its landscapes and nature: impressive granite rocks, waterfalls, rivers with clean water... In 1984 the park received the status “ World heritage»Under the auspices of UNESCO. About 3 million people visit this park every year. This is a 17 minute exposure in moonlight:

10. Martian landscape from Yellowstone National Park:

11. Canyonlands National Park, Utah:

12. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, which in the 1920s was nicknamed "Wayne's Wonderland" from local enthusiasts who advocated the development of the park area. Colorful canyons, ridges, rocky arches and monoliths are truly amazing:

13. Great National Park Sand dunes - the youngest reserve, officially declared a national park only in September 2004. The park is proud of the most high dunes in North America, the height of which sometimes reaches 210 meters. These huge masses of sand are constantly moving and taking on bizarre shapes:

14. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. It gets its name from the long, glacier-carved valleys that are now filled with ocean water. This is the Aialik glacier:

15. Saguaro National Park, Arizona. The name of the park comes from the name of the giant saguaro cactus (in Russian, carnegia). These cacti live 75 years, grow up to 14 meters in height and up to 3 meters in girth. In total, more than 50 species of cacti grow on the territory of the park. On the Sunset:

16. Winter in Joshua Tree National Park . We have already talked in detail about this amazing tree:

17. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon . The main attraction is crater lake crater, which is famous for its deep blue color and clear water. This deepest lake in the USA, the second deepest in North America and the seventh deepest in the whole world (Baikal is the deepest):

18. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. The main attraction of the park is Bryce canyon... Despite the name, it is not really a canyon, but rather a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion. The reds, oranges and whites of the rocks present a breathtaking sight, especially at sunrise or sunset:

19. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington state. On the territory of the park there is Stratovolcano Rainier height 4 392 m:

20. Canyonlands National Park, Utah. On some rocks, drawings were discovered that were created more than 3,000 years ago by groups of nomadic hunters:

21. Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The park has been protected since 1980 as an amazing Arctic territory. The park was named after the Katmai volcano, located in the middle of it. And Katmai Park is a real bear territory:

22. Death Valley National Park in California is the driest national park in the United States. There is a salt plain on the territory of the park Badwater(English Badwater), which is the deepest ground depression in the territory North America... Its depth is 86 m below sea level. See, also, an interesting reportage "Crawling Stones of the Valley of Death":

23. Lava on Big Island- the most big island Hawaiian archipelago with active volcanoes:

24. Arches National Park, Utah. The park is home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world famous "Graceful arch"... This arch also has another playful name - "Cowboy Pants":

25. Grand Teton National Park:

May 19, 2018 Gennady

Did you know that there are over 400 national parks in the United States? Among them there are national parks, architectural monuments, historical battlefields, picturesque rivers and even the White House. Each of the fifty states has its own national park. The first national park in the United States was Yellowstone Park, a unique national park created in 1872. At that time, there was no agency in the United States that would manage and preserve national parks and landmarks. Therefore, in 1916, the National Park Service was created by the US government. This independent agency is dedicated to the preservation for present and future generations of national parks and landmarks of historical and cultural value. A national park can only be created if the US Congress passes legislation. Today, the US national park system includes not only national parks, for example, Yellowstone, but also monuments of architecture of national importance, and military-historical monuments. For example, many national parks are the battlegrounds of the Civil War or War of Independence. The most famous parks in this category include the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania - the site of the main battles of the Civil War - and the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Virginia. Monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC are also part of our national park system. Perhaps the most famous nature Park in the United States, it is the Grand Canyon in Arizona, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The US National Park Service has over 20,000 employees who support these parks. They are helped by nearly two million volunteers who collect data for the information service, clean up trash, and conduct excursions. Many national parks have tourist centers with educational materials and various exhibits. There are hotels in large parks such as Yellowstone. Nearly 280 million people visit the US national parks every year. The federal government spends nearly $ 3 billion to maintain and promote them as part of American culture and national heritage.

The United States of America is amazing country, which on its vast territory unites the most diverse ecosystems. From mighty glaciers to dried up desert, from high mountains to deep gorges, from endless plains to dense and impenetrable forests. All this can be seen on the territory of the country with an area of ​​9.5 million km2. Millions of cities with constant smog alternate with uninhabited landscapes, and national parks and protected areas are found everywhere here. The total number of parks, reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and other territories is more than 300, and 14 US national parks are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In all national parks in the United States, get ready to meet the teddy bears

National parks are a matter of special pride for the country, and the attitude towards them is appropriate, because they are home to numerous species of animals and birds. Not to mention the unique types of plants and trees that can be found only here. The Pacific coast especially stands out in this regard, where the temperate climate and fogs contribute to the fact that only this corner of the earth grows the most amazing trees on the planet. You probably already guessed that we are talking about sequoias. They can be seen in several parks in California, and we went to one of them to see with our own eyes this miracle of nature.

Giant sequoia

These trees can be recognized by two characteristic features: the tallest and the heaviest. Average height sequoia is 60 meters, but some specimens have already exceeded 115 meters. And the trunk girth of the widest sequoia is 31.5 meters. In addition, these are real long-lived record holders, because the oldest of the currently existing sequoias are more than 3.5 thousand years old. Scientists-researchers have proved that these giant trees existed during the Jurassic period, and this is 200-150 million years ago.

The name of the tree comes from the name of the Indian chief of the Cherokee tribe - Sekwu, who fought a liberation war with foreigners for their territories. In addition, he invented the Indian writing and is considered the first folk enlightener. In the end, the tribes of the Indians were still driven out of their lands. But the sequoia has become an eternal monument to the brave leader. Many times the Americans tried to rename the tree, sometimes "California pine", then "mammoth tree", but these names did not take root.

Sequoia national park

You can look at these giants in Sequoia National Park which is located in the southern Sierra Nevada in California. The park was founded in 1890 and receives over a million tourists every year. It is adjacent to Kings Canyon Park, which also contains giant sequoias.

The cost of a single admission ticket

Before you see the famous trees, you have to pay for entrance ticket, the cost of which is $ 30 per car. I am very glad that this price includes a visit to two national parks at once: Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Moreover, the entrance ticket will be valid for another 7 days. An entry permit is called a "permit" and is hung on the inside of the windshield so that it can be seen. He will serve as your pass.

The cost of the annual subscription and its validity

You can also buy a special annual pass to visit all national parks and reserves in the United States. It costs $ 80 and applies to the driver and all passengers in the car. You can buy it at the box office of any national park, or online.

For ourselves, we did not purchase it, since according to the plan we had parks without national status, and this subscription did not apply to their visit. You can see the list of national parks where you can visit with an annual subscription.

Weather conditions in Sequoia Park in winter

It is best to plan your visit in summer time, and if you come here in winter, be sure to check the condition of the roads on the website of the national park in advance. Because in most cases, the roads will be closed due to snowfall. Moreover, almost all national parks in the United States are closed for movement by cars in winter, and become accessible only for walking. Although we arrived at the park in early December, we were lucky that the roads were open, but there was already a thick layer of ice on the asphalt. Because of this, driving on the narrow, winding roads of the park became a dangerous adventure, because our car was shod with summer tires that were completely unusable for data. weather conditions... Braking on it turned into a prolonged slip, so maximum concentration was required from the driver. Best suited for such roads are special chains that fit on wheels. The badge at the entrance will remind you of this once again. In any case, in the park you are at your own peril and risk and bear responsibility for your actions yourself.

Among other things, most of the roads leading to the upper parts of the park will also be closed and will have to be reached on foot. To do this, it is better to wear trekking shoes and take food with you for a couple of hours.

General Sherman

Even the very beginning of the park will immediately impress you with the size of the trees, and these are not even giant sequoias yet. To get to them, you need to get to the part of the park called Giant Forest (Giant Forest) ... It is here that the largest and heaviest sequoia on our planet grows General Sherman... It was named after the General of the Civil War in the United States William Tecums Sherman and the height of this tree is 84 meters and every year it increases by 1.5 cm.The weight is estimated at 1900 tons, the circumference of the trunk at the very ground is 32 meters, the crown span is 32.5 meters, maximum trunk diameter 11.1 m. These figures make General Sherman the largest and heaviest tree. In 2006, the largest branch fell off from its crown, the diameter of which was 2 meters and the length - 30 meters. And even after this "loss" the tree retained its leading position in terms of its size.

Up close, it seems incredibly huge, and it is. It is forbidden to approach it, but despite this, everyone will climb over the fence to take pictures near the famous crack in the bark, which allows one to assess the scale of the tree.

Looking up at it, you have to throw your head back very strongly, and this is not yet the tallest sequoia. Superiority in height is given to a variety of evergreen sequoia (Sequoia sempervirens), which bears the name Hyperion... It lives up to its name 100%. It grows in Redwood National Park in northern California. Its dimensions are truly impressive: 115 meters high, which is comparable to the size of a 42-storey building. The US authorities deliberately do not disclose the exact coordinates of the location of this tree in order to curb the flow of tourists, which could damage the fragile ecosystem that has formed around Hyperion.

Sentinell

There are more than 300 caves in Sequoia Park, but only one of them is accessible to tourists. And, unfortunately, it was also closed during the winter. Having passed almost the entire Sequoia park, we saw another tree, one of the ten largest in this park - sequoia Sentinell (The Sentinel) ... Its height is 78.5 meters and it is located in the same part of the park as General Sherman - in the Giant Forest.

Kings Canyon Park

After taking a walk in Sequoia Park, we decided to devote time to Kings Canyon, which also contains many famous sequoias. The number of its visitors is 2 times less than that of Sequoia Park, but you should definitely visit it, especially since you have already purchased an entrance ticket that is valid for both parks.

The main place in Kings Canyon is Grant's Grove (Grant Grove) , around which you can walk along the paths and look at the second largest timber after General Sherman, General Grant's tree (The General Grant Tree) ... It was named after Civil War General Ulysses Grant. Initially, it was believed that it was General Grant who was the largest tree, but after the measurements were taken, he had to give up his leadership to General Sherman. Its height is 81.5 meters, which means that you have to try hard to see its top.

In addition, in the grove you can see a felled sequoia, which is called "Fallen Monarch" (Fallen Monarch) ... No one knows exactly when this giant fell, but from 1868 to 1876. this trunk served a variety of purposes: it housed a dwelling, a hotel, a saloon, and even a stable for 32 horses. Now the trunk is empty, and you can just walk inside it and feel the size of this huge tree. Also, here you can see many cut down trees, as well as other fallen trunks, which have been lying since the last century, and serve as a living reminder of the irresponsible human activity in relation to nature.

After visiting these national parks, I have a deep regret in my soul that these incredible giant trees are on the verge of extinction, and soon we will be able to see them only in pictures from history. But, we must pay tribute to the US authorities, which accept everything necessary measures in order to prevent this from happening.

We did not manage to visit the Canyon itself, due to the same closed roads due to heavy snowfall. But it will be a great reason to come here again. We leave hospitable California and move on to the next national park... Stay with us!