The Seven Most Visited National Parks in the U.S.
7. Olympic National Park
Location: Washington
Size: 922,000 acres
Established: June 29, 1938
2015 attendance: 3.3 million
Other facts:
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Ice Age isolation led to 23 unique species (15 animals, 8 plants).
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The park contains three distinct ecosystems: rugged Pacific shore, subalpine forest, and temperate rain forest.
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The park is a United Nations World Heritage Site.
- Found within the park is Mount Olympus, which rises 7,980 feet below sea level.
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6. Zion National Park
Location: Utah
Size: 148,733 acres
Established: November 19, 1919
2015 attendance: 3.6 million
Other facts:
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The Virgin River has been responsible for much of the landscape-shaping here.
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Zion Canyon stretches 15 miles through the park.
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Horse Ranch Mountain, at 8,726 feet, is the highest point in the park; the lowest point is 3,666 feet, at Coalpits Wash.
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Kolob Arch, at 284 feet long, is one of the world’s largest freestanding natural arches.
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More than 100 miles of wilderness trails dot the landscape.
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5. Yellowstone National Park
Location: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
Size: 2.2 million acres
Established: March 1, 1872
2015 attendance: 4.1 million
Other facts:
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This was the first national park in the world.
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Old Faithful, an uncharacteristically regularly spouting geyser, is one of the world’s most famous attractions.
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The park is one of the world’s largest wildlife reserves.
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More geysers and hot springs can be found here than anywhere else on the planet.
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Numbers 4–2 |
Social Studies for Kids
copyright 2002–2016
David White |