The concept of "national park" originated in the United States. Although the name was first seen in Michigan's Mackinac Park in 1875, it is widely believed that Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 "for the good and pleasure of the people," was the original national park. Since then, the concept of "national park" has been used by many countries around the world. Although the exact meaning of each is different, the basic meaning is to refer to a form of nature reserve.
For people, national parks are rare places where one can get so close to nature's wildest, most exotic aspects and most diverse ecosystems. From endless deserts to lush rainforests and majestic glaciers, the magic of nature is everywhere. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the most beautiful national parks you must visit in your lifetime.
1. Lake District National Park, UK
Best time to visit: March-June
There are many lakes in the mountains of northern England, hence the name Lake District. Among them, the golden daffodils on the shores of Lake Ullswater are famous for eternity due to the poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by the English romantic poet William Wordsworth. Wordsworth mentioned in his Guide to the Lake District published in 1810 that he had been in close contact with nature on this land for 60 years. Like many other "lakeside poets", Wordsworth was fascinated by the vast expanse of the lake. The Lake District encompasses both the deepest and highest point in England. Towering mountains separate the lakes. The highest peak, Scofield Peak, is 3,978 meters high. Even if it is not counted on the Scofield Peak, this mountain range is enough to be called the "Roof of the Country". This wet area has a unique look in England. Large glaciers lie in U-shaped valleys, and 53 small glaciers flow in glacier basins or mountain valleys at higher altitudes, forming craters or ordinary waters. These glaciers created 16 lakes in the Lake District.
2. Grand Canyon National Park, United States
Best time to visit: mid-May to mid-October
The canyon is an amazing and truly large crack in the earth's crust. It twists and turns for 446 kilometers, is 200 to 29 kilometers wide, and is 1600 meters deep. In 1869, geologist, explorer, and university professor John Wesley Powell said that the 40 or more layers of sedimentary rock in the Grand Canyon are like "pages in a history book." There are very few Mesozoic rocks in the park, which are basically eroded, but there are still some residues, especially in the western part of the canyon. Rapid etching and slow expansion determine the special appearance and character of the Grand Canyon. Despite its name, the Grand Canyon is neither the longest nor the deepest in the world. The Hulls Canyon in the United States is 2,436 meters deep, and Cotahuasi and Colca in Peru are both 3,200 meters deep.
3. Etosha National Park, Namibia
Best time to visit: May-October
"Etosha" means "the great white land". It is so vast and dazzling that it is visible to the naked eye even from space. This area is protected by the Ramsar Convention. Before a series of tectonic movements, the Kunene River has not deviate, and there is also a lake here. But the term Etosha is not a memorial to the lake, but a "recognition" of what is now a rapidly changing wetland. This wetland has a thin layer of water with a layer of blue-green algae floating on it. From January to April, cyanobacteria cover the clay depressions that crack into hexagons, drying up to leave a layer of salt crust. The phenomenon spread over about 5,000 square kilometers and could not be alleviated by rainfall. Because rain is so rare, a pond can only form occasionally. But there are 3 rivers here, which, although the flow is not very stable, have solved part of the drought problem to some extent.
4. Banff National Park, Canada
Best time to visit: Year round
The temperature where the hot spring is located can reach 44°C, contains a small amount of oxygen and a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide and minerals, and is also slightly radioactive. But none of that can stop the Banff Springs snail. This is a species that was isolated from a species of snail about 10,000 years ago. There are two valleys on the northeastern slope of Sulphur Mountain in the park - Foggy Valley and Bow Valley. There are a total of 10 sulfur mineral springs in the valley, and Banff Springs snails only live in 7 of them. In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railroad workers sporadically discovered the cave and Hot Springs Valley, which is now an official historic monument. This discovery gave birth to Canada's first national park. There are 25 peaks over 3 kilometers, such as natural ingenuity, breathtaking and home to a large number of animals.
