[Number, 19; total area, 11,817 square miles.]
National parks Location. Area in Distinctive characteristics.
in order of square
creation. miles.
Hot Springs Middle 1½ 46 hot springs possessing
1832 Arkansas. curative properties—Many hotels
and boarding houses—20
bath-houses under public
control.
Yellowstone Northwestern 3,348 More geysers than in all rest
1872 Wyoming. of world together—Boiling
springs—Mud volcanoes—Petrified
forests—Grand Canyon of the
Yellowstone, remarkable for
gorgeous coloring—Large
lakes—Many large streams and
waterfalls—Vast wilderness,
greatest wild bird and animal
preserve in world—Exceptional
trout fishing.
Sequoia Middle 604 The Big Tree National
1890 eastern Park—Scores of sequoia trees 20
California. to 30 feet in diameter,
thousands over 10 feet in
diameter—Towering mountain
ranges—Mount Whitney, highest
peak in continental United
States—Startling
precipices—Cave of considerable
size.
Yosemite Middle 1,125 Valley of world-famed
1890 eastern beauty—Lofty cliffs—Romantic
California. vistas—Many waterfalls of
extraordinary height—3 groves
of big trees—High
Sierra—Waterwheel falls—Good
trout fishing.
General Grant Middle 4 Created to preserve the
1890 eastern celebrated General Grant Tree,
California. 35 feet in diameter—6 miles
from Sequoia National Park.
Mount Rainier West central 325 Largest accessible single peak
1890 Washington. glacier system—28 glaciers,
some of large size—48 square
miles of glacier, 50 to 500
feet thick—Wonderful sub-alpine
wild-flower fields.
Crater Lake Southwestern 249 Lake of extraordinary blue in
1902 Oregon. crater of extinct volcano—Sides
1,000 feet high—Interesting
lava formations—Fine fishing.
Wind Cave South Dakota. 17 Cavern having many miles of
1903 galleries and numerous chambers
containing peculiar formations.
Platt Southern 1⅓ Many sulphur and other springs
1901 Oklahoma. possessing medicinal value.
Sullys Hill North Dakota. 1⅕ Small park with woods, streams,
1904 and a lake—Is an important
wild-animal preserve.
Mesa Verde Southwestern 77 Most notable and best preserved
1906 Colorado. prehistoric cliff dwellings in
United States, if not in the
world.
Glacier Northwestern 1,534 Rugged mountain region of
1910 Montana. unsurpassed Alpine
character—250 glacier-fed lakes
of romantic beauty—60 small
glaciers—Precipices thousands
of feet deep—Almost sensational
scenery of marked
individuality—Fine trout
fishing.
Rocky Mountain North middle 378 Heart of the Rockies—Snowy
1915 Colorado. range, peaks 11,000 to 14,250
feet altitude—Remarkable
records of glacial period.
Hawaii Hawaii. 242 Three separate areas—Kilauea
1916 and Mauna Loa on Hawaii,
Haleakala on Maui.
Lassen Volcanic Northern 124 Only active volcano in United
1916 California. States proper—Lassen Peak,
10,465 feet—Cinder Cone, 6,879
feet—Hot springs—Mud geysers.
Mount McKinley South 2,645 Highest mountain in North
1917 central America—Rises higher above
Alaska. surrounding country than any
other mountain in the world.
Grand Canyon North 1,009 The greatest example of erosion
1919 central and the most sublime spectacle
Arizona. in the world.
Lafayette Maine coast. 12 The group of granite mountains
1919 upon Mount Desert Island.
Zion Southwestern 120 Magnificent gorge (Zion
1919 Utah. Canyon), depth from 1,500 to
2,500 feet, with precipitous
walls—Of great beauty and
scenic interest.