Daily Almanac for
May 13, 2008
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Health and Science > Environment and Nature > Nature > The National Park System

NATIONAL PARKS

Name, location, and year authorized Acreage Outstanding characteristics
Acadia (Maine), 1919 47,548.94Rugged seashore on Mt. Desert Island and adjacent mainland
Arches (Utah), 1971 76,518.98 Unusual stone arches, windows, pedestals caused by erosion (park was a National Monument 1929–1971)
Badlands (S.D.), 1978 242,755.94 Arid land of fossils, prairie, bison, deer, bighorn sheep, antelope (park was a National Monument 1929–1978)
Big Bend (Tex.), 1935 801,163.21Mountains and desert bordering the Rio Grande
Biscayne (Fla.), 1980 172,924.07Aquatic, coral reef park south of Miami (park was a National Monument, 1968–1980)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colo.),
 1999		30,243.53Canyon with narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths (park was a National Monument 1933–1999)
Bryce Canyon (Utah), 1924 35,835.08 Area of brilliantly colored, grotesque eroded rocks
Canyonlands (Utah), 1964 337,597.83 Colorful wilderness with impressive red-rock canyons, spires, arches
Capitol Reef (Utah), 1971 241,904.26 Highly colored sedimentary rock formations in high, narrow gorges (park was a National Monument 1937–1971)
Carlsbad Caverns (N.M.), 1930 46,766.45 One of the world's largest known caves
Channel Islands (Calif.), 1980 249,561.00Area is rich in marine mammals, sea birds, endangered species, and archaeology (park was a National Monument 1938–1980)
Congaree (S.C.), 200321,743.58Contains the largest contiguous tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the U.S. (park was a National Monument 1976–2003)
Crater Lake (Ore.), 1902 183,224.05Deep blue lake in heart of inactive volcano
Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio), 200032,860.73Wilderness area offering recreational, historic, and cultural attractions, including scenic rail journeys (park was a National Recreation Area 1974–2000)
Death Valley (Calif.-Nev.), 1994 3,340,409.65Largest desert, surrounded by high mountains, containing the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (park was a National Monument 1933–1994)
Denali (Alaska), 1917 4,740,911.72 Contains Mt. McKinley, N. America's highest mountain
(20,320 ft) (formerly Mt. McKinley National Park, 1917–1980)
Dry Tortugas (Fla.), 1992 64,701.22 Located 70 mi off Key West. Features an underwater nature trail (formerly Ft. Jefferson National Monument 1935–1992)
Everglades (Fla.), 1934 1,508,491.84Subtropical area with abundant bird and animal life
Gates of the Arctic (Alaska), 1980 7,523,897.74 Diverse north central wilderness contains part of Brooks Range
Glacier (Mont.), 1910 1,013,572.41 Rocky Mountain scenery with many glaciers and lakes
Glacier Bay (Alaska), 1980 3,224,840.31 Popular for wildlife, whale-watching, glacier-calving, scenery (park was a National Monument 1925–1980)
Grand Canyon (Ariz.), 1919 1,217,403.32Mile-deep gorge, 4 to 18 mi wide, 217 mi long
Grand Teton (Wyo.), 1929 309,994.66Picturesque range of high mountain peaks
Great Basin (Nev.), 1986 77,180.00 Exceptional scenic, biologic, geologic attractions (formerly Lehman Caves National Monument 1922–1986)
Great Smoky Mts. (N.C.-Tenn.), 1926 521,495.36Highest mountain range east of Black Hills; luxuriant plant life
Guadalupe Mountains (Tex.), 1966 86,415.97 Contains highest point in Texas: Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft)
Haleakala (Hawaii), 191629,830.15World-famous 10,023-ft Haleakala volcano (dormant) (formerly part of Hawaii National Park. Renamed in 1960)
Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii), 1916209,695.38Spectacular volcanic area; luxuriant vegetation at lower levels (formerly Hawaii National Park. Renamed in 1961)
Hot Springs (Ark.), 1921 5,550.2547 mineral hot springs said to have therapeutic value
Isle Royale (Mich.), 1931 571,790.11 Largest wilderness island in Lake Superior; moose, wolves, lakes
Joshua Tree (Calif.), 1994 784,162.05Desert region featuring Joshua trees and a great variety of plants and animals (park was a National Monument 1936–1994)
Katmai (Alaska), 1980 3,674,529.68 Expansion may ensure brown bear's preservation. Park is known for fishing, 1912 eruption of Novarupta, bears (park was a National Monument 1918–1980)
Kenai Fjords (Alaska), 1980 669,982.99Mountain goats, marine mammals, birdlife are features at this seacoast park near Seward (park was a National Monument 1978–1980)
Kings Canyon (Calif.), 1890 461,901.20 Huge canyons; high mountains; giant sequoias (formerly General Grant National Park 1890–1940)
Kobuk Valley (Alaska), 1980 1,750,736.82 Native culture and anthropology center around the broad Kobuk River in northwest Alaska (park was a National Monument 1978–1980)
Lake Clark (Alaska), 1980 2,619,733.21 Park provides scenic and wilderness recreation across Cook Inlet from Anchorage (park was a National Monument 1978–1980)
Lassen Volcanic (Calif.), 1916 106,372.36 Exhibits of impressive volcanic phenomena
Mammoth Cave (Ky.), 1926 52,830.19Vast limestone labyrinth with underground river
Mesa Verde (Colo.), 1906 52,121.93 Best-preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in United States
Mount Rainier (Wash.), 1899 235,625.00 Single-peak glacial system; dense forests, flowered meadows
National Park of American Samoa, 19889,000.00 Samoa National Park, American Samoa: two rain forest preserves and a coral reef on the island of Ofu are home to unique tropical animals. The park also includes several thousand acres on the islands of Tutuila and Ta'u
North Cascades (Wash.), 1968 504,780.94 Roadless Alpine landscape; jagged peaks; mountain lakes; glaciers
Olympic (Wash.), 1938 922,650.94 Finest Pacific Northwest rain forest; scenic mountain park
Petrified Forest (Ariz.), 1962 93,532.57 Extensive natural exhibit of petrified wood (park was a National Monument 1906–1962)
Redwood (Calif.), 1968 112,512.97 Coastal redwood forests; contains world's tallest-known tree (369.2 ft)
Rocky Mountain (Colo.), 1915 265,765.03 Section of the Rocky Mountains; 107 named peaks over 10,000 ft
Saguaro (Ariz.), 1994 91,445.16Giant saguaro cacti, unique to the Sonoran Desert, sometimes reach a height of 50 ft in this cactus forest (park was a National Monument 1933–1994)
Sequoia (Calif.), 1890 404,051.17 Giant sequoias; magnificent High Sierra scenery, including Mt. Whitney
Shenandoah (Va.), 1926 199,038.07Tree-covered mountains; scenic Skyline Drive
Theodore Roosevelt (N.D.), 1978 70,446.89 Scenic valley of Little Missouri River; T.R. Ranch; wildlife (Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park 1947–1978)
Virgin Islands (U.S. V.I.), 1956 14,688.87 Beaches; lush hills; prehistoric Carib Indian relics
Voyageurs (Minn.), 1971 218,200.17 Wildlife, canoeing, fishing, hiking
Wind Cave (S.D.), 1903 28,295.03 Limestone caverns in Black Hills; bison herd
Wolf Trap Farm (Va.), 2003130.28The nation's first National Park for the Performing Arts
Wrangell–St. Elias (Alaska), 1980 8,323,147.59 Largest park system area has abundant wildlife, second highest peak in U.S. (Mt. St. Elias); adjoins Canadian park (park was a National Monument 1978–1980)
Yellowstone (Wyo.-Mont.-Idaho), 1872 2,219,790.71 World's greatest geyser area; abundant falls, wildlife, canyons
Yosemite (Calif.), 1890 761,266.28 Mountains; inspiring gorges and waterfalls; giant sequoias
Zion (Utah), 1919 146,597.64Multicolored gorge in heart of southern Utah desert

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The National Park SystemNational Historical Parks
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