The Icons of North AmericaNorth America holds some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. In the United States, Yosemite National Park stands out with its massive granite cliffs like El Capitan and towering waterfalls that plunge into a green valley. Just a state away, Yellowstone National Park offers a look into a volcanic wonderland filled with shooting geysers and colorful hot springs. For deep canyons, Grand Canyon National Park cuts a massive path through Arizona, showing millions of years of Earth’s history in its red rocks. Zion National Park features steep pink cliffs and narrow canyon trails carved by rushing water.Further north, Grand Teton National Park displays sharp mountain peaks rising above clear blue lakes. Glacier National Park in Montana rewards visitors with melting glaciers and winding alpine roads. Acadia National Park brings ocean views to the list, where rocky coastlines meet dense forests in Maine. Up in Alaska, Denali National Park protects America’s tallest mountain peak and vast stretches of wild tundra. Canada also shares this beautiful wilderness. Banff National Park showcases bright turquoise lakes surrounded by snow-capped peaks, while Jasper National Park offers peaceful glaciers and dark night skies perfect for stargazing.
The Wonders of EuropeEurope combines natural beauty with ancient history. Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is famous for its sixteen cascading lakes joined together by beautiful waterfalls. Visitors can walk right over the clear water on wooden boardwalks. In Italy, the Cinque Terre National Park protects five colorful fishing villages perched on steep ocean cliffs. Iceland offers Vatnajökull National Park, a massive frozen wonderland where visitors can explore glowing blue ice caves beneath Europe’s largest glacier. Further south, the Swiss National Park protects the untouched alpine meadows and wild animals of the Alps.In Spain, Teide National Park sits on a volcanic island and features a giant crater that looks like the surface of Mars. Greece invites travelers to Olympus National Park, the legendary home of the ancient gods, which features deep gorges and high peaks. For green hills and quiet lakes, the Lake District National Park in England provides a peaceful countryside escape. Scotland’s Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park offers misty mountains and deep glens filled with history. Finally, Triglav National Park in Slovenia protects limestone peaks and emerald rivers perfect for outdoor adventure.
The Wilds of Africa and AsiaAfrica and Asia offer some of the best wildlife viewing and unique ecosystems on the planet. Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is world-famous for the annual movement of millions of wildebeest and zebras across the grassy plains. Nearby in South Africa, Kruger National Park allows travelers to spot lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes in their natural habitat. For a different landscape, Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia contains some of the tallest sand dunes in the world, which glow bright orange at sunrise.In Asia, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Japan gives travelers iconic views of the snow-capped Mount Fuji rising above quiet lakes and hot springs. Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park in China is known for its multi-tiered waterfalls and colorful lakes that change hue throughout the day. India’s Jim Corbett National Park provides a safe haven for endangered Bengal tigers inside a lush river valley. In Indonesia, Komodo National Park protects giant prehistoric lizards that roam across dry volcanic islands and sandy beaches.
The Treasures of South America and OceaniaThe southern hemisphere holds incredibly diverse landscapes, from freezing glaciers to tropical coral reefs. Torres del Paine National Park in Chile features sharp granite towers, massive blue glaciers, and windy grasslands. Across the border in Argentina, Los Glaciares National Park lets travelers stand face-to-face with the advancing Perito Moreno Glacier as giant chunks of ice crash into the water. Iguazú National Park, split between Brazil and Argentina, protects a massive horseshoe of hundreds of heavy waterfalls surrounded by a thick jungle.Down in Oceania, Fiordland National Park in New Zealand offers dramatic, deep fjords, steep waterfalls, and rainforests carved out by ancient glaciers. Across the Tasman Sea, Kakadu National Park in Australia showcases ancient Aboriginal rock art, wetlands filled with saltwater crocodiles, and rugged sandstone cliffs. For an underwater adventure, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects the largest coral reef system in the world, filled with colorful sea life. These amazing places remind travelers of the incredible natural variety that exists across our planet and the importance of keeping these wild spaces safe for future generations to enjoy
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