The largest national parks in the world. The most beautiful national parks in the world

National parks and reserves are one of the few places with almost untouched nature. Virgin forests, pristine lakes, rare and endangered species of animals - all this can be seen with your own eyes for a small price or even free of charge. We want to tell you about the largest and most remarkable natural parks and reserves in different natural zones of Russia.

• Square: 269 ​​thousand ha
• Location: The Republic of Buryatia
• Foundation date: September 12, 1986
• Average temperature: in January −18…−19 °С, in July +12…+14 °С
• Animal world: hare, muskrat, squirrel, brown bear, elk, ermine

There are animals listed in the Red Book here - there are more than 40 rare and endangered species in the Zabaikalsky Park. The world of birds is also diverse: a black crane, a black stork, a whooper swan can be found in the park. Vegetation is of particular value: many pine, cedar and fir forests are over 200 years old. On the territory of the park there are many unique natural monuments - capes, islands, caves, water sources, as well as archaeological sites, such as traces of ancient settlements.

The territory of the park included several natural complexes: the Svyatoy Nos peninsula, the islands of the Chivyrkuisky Bay, the Ushkany Islands. The latter, by the way, were especially chosen by ants: there are more than six thousand anthills on the islands, some of them reach the height of human growth! The Ushkany Islands are also famous for seals: in summer, hundreds of individuals gather on large stones. Seals are shy animals, so the park administration protects them from excessive attention of visitors - it will not be possible to get to the islands without special permission.

• Square: 881 thousand ha
• Location: Republic of Altai, Altai mountains
• Foundation date: April 16, 1932
• Average temperature: in January -8.3 °C, in July +16.8 °C
• Animal world: bear, sable, wolverine, deer, ermine, squirrel, roe deer

Thinking about what reserves there are in Russia, one cannot but recall the Altai Reserve. It has a rather difficult fate: twice, in 1951 and 1961, it was disbanded, but invariably restored. Its main goals are the preservation of Lake Teletskoye, the protection of forests, the rescue of sable, deer, snow leopard and other animals that are on the verge of extinction. There are many streams and springs with clean water on the territory of the reserve. The pride of the reserve is cedar forests: their age reaches 450 years.

The territory of the reserve is practically impassable, only occasionally there are narrow paths, which are guided only by foresters and some employees. This is one of the largest reserves in Russia, its area is 9.4% of the total area of ​​the Altai Republic. The reserve is included in the list of virgin or little changed ecological regions of the world.

• Square: 121 thousand ha
• Location: Primorsky Krai, Lazo village
• Foundation date: February 10, 1935
• Average temperature: in January −5.1…−12.5 °C, in August +17.4…+23.5 °C
• Animal world: spotted deer, red deer, goral, Amur tiger

The Lazovsky State Nature Reserve of Russia is named after its second director, Lev Georgievich Kaplanov. He was one of the first to study the Amur tigers, which to this day are the pride of the reserve. In 1943, Kaplanov was killed by poachers who spread to the territory of the reserve during the Great Patriotic War.

Lazovsky Reserve is the second largest in Primorye. Forests occupy 96% of the territory of the reserve. It is the preservation and study of coniferous-deciduous forests that is one of the main goals of creating the reserve. In addition, employees are trying to preserve populations of animal species listed in the Red Book. For example, on the territory of the reserve there are 14 adult Amur tigers and more than 200 gorals, an artiodactyl animal of the goat subfamily.

• Square: 17 thousand ha
• Location: Primorsky Krai
• Foundation date: 1916
• Average temperature: in January -13 °C, in August +21 °C
• Animal world: Far Eastern leopard, Amur tiger, Far Eastern forest cat, Himalayan bear, roe deer, wild boar, exotic butterflies

Kedrovaya Pad is one of the oldest nature reserves in Russia. At the beginning of the 20th century, after the creation of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the strengthening of Vladivostok as a trading port, the intensive development of Primorye began. The development was accompanied by deforestation, forest fires, random hunting, including for rare animals. In 1910, a forestry was organized on the site of the reserve, which sought to preserve the unique virgin forests. Thanks to the foresters, deforestation, mining, and hunting stopped in Kedrovaya Pad, and soon the reserve itself was created.

More than 900 species of plants grow here; some of them are not found anywhere except the "Kedrovaya Pad". Forests occupy 73% of the area of ​​the reserve. Particularly noteworthy are black fir forests, which are almost impossible to find anywhere else. Black fir, which got its name from the dark bark, is the largest tree in the Far East. The fauna of the reserve is also diverse - from the flying squirrel to the Far Eastern leopard, listed in the Red Book.

• Square: 134 thousand ha
• Location: Samara Region
• Foundation date: April 28, 1984
• Animal world: bat, golden eagle, elk, roe deer

On the territory of the park there are about 200 natural and historical monuments, among them mounds, mountains and caves. The park is also rich in archaeological finds. For example, burial mounds of the 7th-8th centuries and traces of the Murom town, settlements of the 9th-13th centuries were found on the territory of the Samarskaya Luka.

More than 30,000 bats live in old adits in the park - 15 species in total, some of which are listed in the Red Book. Many tourists, when visiting the galleries, made noise, kindled fires, took pictures of animals. Since bats are very sensitive, human intervention ended in death for many. To preserve the animal population, park officials have limited access to adits. However, the Park Science and Technology Council decided to create a "Bat Museum" so that visitors can still get to know the lifestyle of bats and their role in nature.

• Square: 1,462.37 km2
• Location: Smolensk region
• Foundation date: April 15, 1992
• Animal world: beaver, squirrel, mink, golden eagle

There are 35 glacial lakes on the territory of the park - hence the name "Smolensk Lakeland". This national park seeks not only to protect nature, but also to engage in environmental education. "Smolenskoye Poozerye" gladly accepts tourists, organizes cultural events: bard song festivals, marches, excursions. For example, in spring and autumn, a competition in sports ornithology is held among the guests of the park - this, roughly speaking, is a photo hunting for birds.

Sixty-five plant species of the "Smolensk Lakeland" are listed in the Red Book of the Smolensk Region, 10 of them are in the Red Book of Russia. Also rare are 26 species of birds and six species of mammals in the park.

• Square: 6,621 ha
• Location: Kaliningrad region
• Foundation date: November 6, 1987
• Animal world: elk, wild boar, roe deer, fox, badger, finch, starling

In the north, the Curonian Spit Park adjoins the Russian-Lithuanian border. This is a favorite vacation spot for Kaliningraders and guests of the Kaliningrad region: despite its small size, the Curonian Spit is one of the most visited national parks in the country. Once upon a time, Scandinavians, Germans, and Balts lived on its territory. Therefore, the "Curonian Spit" keeps a lot of archaeological monuments from different eras: burial grounds, sites, traces of ancient settlements.

The Curonian Spit can be called a "museum of natural areas" - after all, on its territory you can find a variety of landscapes, from birch forests to sand dunes. And only here you can see the "dancing forest": the pines planted in the park in the 60s of the XX century are fancifully bent, resembling the figures of dancing people.

• Square: 1,585 km²
• Location: Novgorod region
• Foundation date: May 17, 1990
• Average temperature: in January -10 °C, in July +16…+17 °C
• Animal world: elk, marten, lynx, otter, bear, hare, badger, fox

Valdai National Park got its name from the city of Valdai, which is over 500 years old. In addition to 82 archaeological sites, the park is notable for architectural and architectural monuments - these are ancient estates, a monastery of the 17th century, and a church of the 18th century. Since the park is located close to Moscow and St. Petersburg, it is one of the most visited in Russia. Eighty-six percent of the area is occupied by forests, where spruce, birch, and pine mainly grow.

Valdai National Park holds many exhibitions and environmental education events, for example, game quests for schoolchildren. During the competition, children must carefully study the information about the park in order to find the treasure.

• Square: 659 thousand ha
• Location: Irkutsk region
• Foundation date: December 5, 1986
• Average temperature: in January -15 °C, in July +14 °C
• Animal world: bear, deer, lynx, wolf, white-tailed eagle, black stork

You can get to the Baikal-Lena Reserve only by water, by boat. The attraction of the reserve is the coast of brown bears. In May, from a ship or an observation tower, you can see how the owners of the taiga walk along the coastline. On the territory of the reserve there are also the oldest volcanoes in the world - they are more than a thousand million years old!

More than 300 species of vertebrates, more than 240 species of birds and 100 species of butterflies live in the reserve. In the administrative building of the Baikal-Lena Reserve, which is located in Irkutsk, there is a museum of nature and a visitor-information center.

• Square: 303.8 km²
• Location: Chelyabinsk region
• Foundation date: May 14, 1920
• Average temperature: in January -21 °C, in July +18 °C
• Animal world: stoat, forest polecat, hare, brown bear, flying squirrel, wolf

The Ilmensky Reserve is interesting not only for tourists, but also for geologists. On its territory there are deposits of precious stones and rare minerals: sapphire, zircon, topaz, aquamarine. It was here that 16 minerals were first discovered. Since 1930, a mineralogical museum has been open to visitors, which presents more than 200 minerals found in the reserve.

Since 1935, not only minerals, but also plants and animals have been protected in the reserve. You can get to the Ilmensky Reserve by car from Chelyabinsk or by public transport from Miass.

By the end of the 19th century, people began to understand that if they did not protect the environment, but only exploited it mercilessly, then in a fairly short time they would manage to destroy many species of flora and fauna. Some of that hard work has already been done. In addition, our beautiful and diverse planet may forever lose its unique natural formations. For this reason, reserves and national parks of the world appeared. Each state that has national parks strives to preserve their natural splendor and diversity. At the same time, in different countries the forms of national parks may differ, but all of them are dedicated to the general idea of ​​preserving nature for future generations who could be proud of their country. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are now 6,555 national parks in the world.

1. Greenland National Park

The world's largest national park (972,000 sq. km) is also the northernmost. Its area exceeds the area of ​​163 countries of the world! It was founded in 1974. Other than the national park staff, there are no other residents here. About 10 thousand musk oxen also live here, which is 40% of all these animals left in the world. Other inhabitants of the park are reindeer, polar bears, walruses, arctic hare and stoats. Sparse vegetation is represented here by mosses and lichens, and only in some places you can see dwarf willows and birches.

2. Kruger (South Africa)

In the national park. Kruger represents typical South African wildlife. This is not only a nature reserve very popular among foreign travelers, but also a profitable business that brings considerable income. This oldest national park in South Africa, listed as a UNESCO heritage, was founded back in 1898 in the northeast of the country. Its area is 19,000 sq. km, and from end to end the distance is 340 km. It consists of three parts located in the valleys of the Olifants and Sabi rivers. A curious kind of "unarmed" African safari is practiced in this reserve. In a huge national park, most of the animals are grouped in its central part. Among them: elephants, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, white rhinos, leopards, 17 species of antelopes and over 400 species of birds.

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3. Serengeti (Tanzania)

The Serengeti National Park is one of the largest (15,000 sq. km) and most famous on the planet, it has an almost complete ecosystem. This oldest reserve in Africa appeared in 1929. Almost 500 species of birds and 3 million of the largest mammals live on its territory. Every year there are spectacular migrations of millions of herds of wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, these living rivers cover a distance of more than 3000 km. The migration of zebras and wildebeests is explained by the fact that a drought begins in the north of the park, burning grass, and in search of food, herbivorous ungulates rush to the cooler and more humid south. On the contrary, when the rainy season begins, the herds return to the north and west.
The Serengeti is also proud of its largest lion population in Africa. Among its inhabitants, mention should be made of elephants, hyenas, gazelles, rhinos and hippos. In the Maasai language, the name of the park means "endless plains" - and in fact, the vast savannah mainly extends here.

4. Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Located in the northwest of the United States, Yellowstone National Park is very famous in the world, especially in recent years. It includes the territories of several states at once: Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The national park was founded here in 1872, because there are a huge number of geysers and thermal springs. Large alpine lake Yellowstone is located in the crater of America's largest supervolcano. A very long time ago this volcano erupted, so the surrounding areas are covered with ancient lava.
Two-thirds of all geysers in the world are concentrated in Yellowstone - almost 3000, among them the largest in the world - "Steamboat". Very famous for its regular eruptions is the geyser "Old Faithful", which ejects boiling water to a height of 40 meters at intervals of 45-125 minutes. Only five geyser fields are known in the world, located in Yellowstone, Kamchatka, Chile, Iceland and New Zealand. Yellowstone is densely stuffed with a variety of thermal springs, of which there are about 10,000 (that is, half of those available in the world), there are mud volcanoes and sources of hydrogen sulfide.
Hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and about 2,000 species of vegetation live in the national park.

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5. Snowdonia (UK)

This national park is located in North Wales. This is one of the first reserves in England and Wales, it was created 60 years ago. It was named after the highest peak in Wales - Mount Snowdon, which has a height of 1085 m. The territory of the Snowdonia National Park lies not only on public, but also on private lands. 26,000 people live within it, and the number of tourists visiting it per year reaches 6 million. For them, 2381 km of open hiking trails have been laid in the park, there are also 264 km of trails for horseback and hiking travelers and 74 km of other routes. So, those who wish can climb to the top of Snowdon by funicular or along a picturesque hiking trail, which has a length of 13 km. There are also old railway lines in the park.

6. Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

The term "Plitvice Lakes" was first mentioned in documents from 1777. In 1949, this place became a national park, and 30 years later UNESCO added it to its heritage list. On its territory there are 16 large karst lakes, 20 caves and 140 waterfalls. This place is unique in that new waterfalls appear here every year and in general the landscape is constantly changing. The water in the lakes here has an amazingly beautiful azure color, so the photographs here are unusually spectacular. Along the hiking trails 18 kilometers long along the banks of the lakes, wooden decks are arranged, from which it is convenient to observe the surrounding beauty and take pictures of it.
Several hiking trails are laid across the park, the journey along which can take both a couple of hours and 8 hours. There is a boat plying the lakes, and the mountains can be viewed from an electric train with special wagons adapted for a better view. But in local lakes it is forbidden to swim, bring dogs here, and have picnics with fires. The Plitvice Lakes are also famous for their unique coniferous and beech forests that have been growing here for many centuries and are able to recover.

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7. Fiordland (New Zealand)

This is the name of the largest national park in New Zealand, which occupies most of its southwestern highlands on the South Island. Here are the deepest lakes of the country and rather high and picturesque mountains, reaching 2746 m. ​​And now Fiordland remains a remote area. There are many beauties here: swift rivers with waterfalls, picturesque fjords, rich and unique flora and fauna. The local dense forests are home to beautiful birds such as cockatoo parrots. In the local waters of the Pacific Ocean, you can meet penguins or a bottlenose dolphin.
The famous British writer Rudyard Kipling glorified the local bay of Milford Sound, calling it "the eighth wonder of the world." Throughout its 18-kilometer length, the bay is framed by high mountain peaks. This place is one of the wettest on the planet - it rains here every two days out of three.

8. Kavango-Zambezi Transboundary Reserve

This reserve is unique in many ways. Spread over a vast territory of 444,000 sq. km, it captures the territories of five countries at once: Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. There are no borders on the territory of the reserve itself, so animals can move freely throughout its territory. This largest African reserve includes a number of parks of individual states, for example, the Okavango Delta and Chobe.
In addition to the rich wildlife, the territory of this reserve is home to world-famous attractions, such as the luxurious Victoria Falls. A transboundary reserve appeared recently - in 2011. The most important task of the five states that organized it was to provide opportunities for free migration for animals. But it has also become a very important and profitable tourist attraction, because literally every day a new tourist group appears in one place or another in the endless reserve. First of all, travelers are attracted here by African elephants, which are home to almost half of all savannah elephants living in Africa. Over 600 species of flora, including unique ones, also grow on the lands of the reserve, and 300 species of birds can be seen in the sky above the luxurious landscapes.

You can look at the flowing water endlessly. And if the water falls from a great height, then even more so. Fortunately, nature spoils us with such chic ...

9. Papahanaumokuakea Marine Reserve (USA)

This reserve is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in the Hawaiian archipelago, including a group of its small islands and atolls. It has an area of ​​approximately 360,000 sq. km, making it the world's largest protected marine reserve. The Papahanaumokuakea Nature Reserve was founded recently - in 2006. There are exotic animals and plants on its islands, but not only these living objects living on land are valuable, but also luxurious coral reefs hidden under a layer of water, forming a unique system.
This name of the reserve did not appear immediately, but only a year after its formation - this is how they decided to mark the married couple of the patrons of nature - the local gods Wakea and Papahanaumoku. For the indigenous people of Hawaii, these places have been sacred since ancient times, according to their beliefs, the souls of their dead relatives went here.
Archaeologists have explored these islands and found that some of them were inhabited by humans in prehistoric times. For example, on the islands of Nihoa and Makumanamana, the remains of ancient settlements have been preserved, in which people who were engaged in agriculture lived. Within Papahanumokuakea was a tenth of the tropical shallow coral reefs belonging to the United States.

10. Limpopo Transfrontier Park

This park also occupies the territories of several African countries - South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Its area at the moment is about 37,000 square meters. km, 10 different zones are distinguished on it. To date, the final boundary of the reserve has not yet been established, especially since its expansion is to be almost three times. This transboundary park appeared only in 2000, and a year later the first animals appeared in it. Now elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and other African animals already live there.

Bali Barat is a national park in the northwest of the island of Bali, which received the status of a nature reserve in 1917. In 1941 it became an Indonesian national park.

On an area of ​​760 sq. km stretched tropical forests, jungles, dry savannahs, mangrove swamps, as well as acacia thickets and alpine forests. In the north of the park is the protruding Prapat Agung peninsula. Surrounded by protected beaches and coral reefs, the small offshore island of Menjangan is a popular diving destination. There are several extinct volcanoes in the east. The highest of them are the mountains Patas (1,412 meters) and Merbuk (1,388 meters).

One hundred and sixty bird species have been recorded in the park, including the critically endangered Balinese starling. First of all, it was for him that the park was created. In 2001 there were only six individuals of this bird left in the world, and all of them were in this park.

The fauna is represented by deer, black monkeys, flying foxes, wild boars, macaques, squirrels, snakes, reef herons, black Indian cuckoos, etc.

90 percent of the territory is closed to the public, and only a few routes are accessible to tourists accompanied by official guides.

The most popular route through the tropical jungle is climbing Mount Gunung Klatakan. In addition to the amazing smell emanating from the many orchids, black monkeys, a hornbill and even flying foxes will decorate the path.

Equally popular are water routes that run along Gilimanuk Bay through the mangrove forests that line the coast. Here you can see a few graceful dark gray Pacific reef herons.

The diversity of wildlife is the key to our well-being.

The nature of our planet is amazingly rich and diverse. The world is full of amazing creations. Where man does not interfere, nature lives and forms according to the perfect laws established by the Creator. But with the advent of civilization, everything changes. Unfortunately, since time immemorial man has killed animals and cut down forests. Over time, people populated almost the entire planet. As a result of human activity, many plants and animals have lost their usual habitats or even disappeared from the face of the Earth.

Purpose of creating national parks.

The main purpose of the creation of national parks and reserves is the protection of living organisms, balancing on the verge of extinction. If there were no protected areas, elephants, rhinos, bison and bison would remain only in zoos, and some animals, such as Komodo dragons - giant monitor lizards that live only in Komodo National Park (on the island of the same name), would disappear altogether. However, despite the common name, national parks were created each for its own specific purpose.

Introduction

1. The purpose of creating national parks

2. Rationale for the choice of topic

3. Main idea of ​​the work

4 Main body

• National parks of the world
• Paanajärvi National Park
• Taganay National Park
• Zabaikalsky National Park
• Olympic National Park
• yellowstone national park
• Monteverde National Park

5. Information sources

Main part

A national park is an area where human activities are restricted for the purpose of protecting the environment.

Unlike nature reserves, where human activity is almost completely prohibited (hunting, tourism, etc. are prohibited), tourists are allowed into the territory of national parks, and economic activities are allowed on a limited scale.

There are over 1000 national parks in the world. There are 29 of them in Russia.

Paanajärvi National Park. Russia.

Paanajärvi National Park is located in the north-west of the Republic of Karelia, in its most elevated part. The Paanajärvi National Park was founded on May 20, 1992 by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation. The area of ​​the national park is 104,473 hectares.

Flora is the main attraction of the park. Its originality is determined by three factors - the low-mountain nature of the relief, the presence of carbonate rocks (dolomites) favorable for the growth of many calciphilous plants, and, finally, the presence of large natural massifs untouched by man.

217 species of vertebrates are registered in the area of ​​the national park: 36 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians and reptiles, 17 species of fish and 1 species of cyclostomes.

The pearl of the park is Lake Paanajärvi, characterized by its small size (1.5 by 24 km) and exceptional depth (128 m). There are many rapids on the rivers, there are significant waterfalls. Reservoirs abound with valuable species of fish.

The natural and historical value of the park is unique. Beautiful landscapes, rich flora and fauna, the opportunity to relax in pristine silence, rich fishing - all this attracts tourists, researchers, photographers, and many nature lovers to visit the park. Currently, about 2.5 thousand visitors a year visit the national park. It is planned to increase the number of tourists in the next three years to 6-8 thousand per year.

Taganay National Park(Russia)

Taganay National Park was organized in 1991. It is located in the western part of the Chelyabinsk region, on the territory of the Zlatoust and Kusinsky administrative districts. The length of the park from north to south is 52 km, from west to east an average of 10-15 km.

The Taganay National Park is located in one of the most unique corners of the Southern Urals - in the region of the Taganay mountain junction, just north of the ancient Ural city of Zlatoust. Many valuable ecological systems, such as mountain tundra and meadows, have been preserved almost untouched here.

About 800 species of higher vascular plants have been noted in the flora, of which 28 are rare and endangered. Roe deer, wild boar, elk, beaver, brown bear, lynx, wolf, marten, ermine, weasel, otter live.

On the territory of the national park there are ancient mineral mines, the wealth of which is presented in the collections of many mineralogical museums both in Russia and abroad. In a word, the Taganay National Park is a small mountainous country with its peaks and intermountain valleys, swift mountain rivers and swampy swamps, tundra and small taiga, the place is perhaps one of the most beautiful in the Southern Urals.

Zabaikalsky National Park (Russia)

The Zabaikalsky National Park was established in 1986 on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia in order to preserve the unique natural complex of the Baikal basin. The national park is located on the east coast of the lake. Baikal, in the central part of the Republic of Buryatia, on the territory of the Barguzinsky district. In the north, the territory of the Barguzinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve adjoins the border of the national park.

The flora includes many endemic, rare and relict plants. According to preliminary estimates, the flora of the park is more than 700 species of vascular plants. There are habitats of many species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, 19 endemic species, 9 species rare in Baikal.

291 species of terrestrial vertebrates are registered on the territory of the national park: 44 species of mammals, 241 species of birds, 3 reptiles and 3 species of amphibians. The most common types of mammals of medium and large sizes: hare, squirrel, muskrat, sable, ermine, brown bear, red deer, elk. 49 species of terrestrial vertebrates found in the park are listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation.

Olympic National Park. (USA)

Olympic National Park is located in the northwestern United States, in the state of Washington, famous for its amazing nature. The total area of ​​the park is 350,000 hectares. Here, in the Pacific fog, enveloping the coast and the forest, large trees are hiding, as well as a broken coastline. The climate of this area is one of the wettest on the planet. The park has mountains with snow-capped peaks and slowly sliding glaciers, as well as rainforests that are as mysterious and dark as the rainforests in the Amazon region.

In 1788, an English captain, in honor of the legendary home of the mythical gods of Ancient Greece, named the highest of these mountains (its height is almost 2,500 meters) Olympus. And in 1938, in order to preserve the inviolability of the virgin nature of these places, the Olympic National Park was created.

Virunga National Park (Africa)

Virunga is one of the oldest national parks in Africa. It is located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For 300 kilometers, the border of the park coincides with the state borders of Rwanda and Uganda. The official birth year of Virunga Park is 1929. Then it was named Albert and Kivu National Park. In 1969, a separate Virunga National Park was separated from the Albert and Kivu single conservation area.

Currently, the territory of the park borders on the lands of the Ruwenzori National Park in Uganda and the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. A few years ago, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda took the initiative to create a transboundary biosphere reserve in the border area, which was supposed to include the Virunga National Park.

The area of ​​the Virunga National Park is 790 thousand hectares. Landscapes in the national park are very diverse. Here you can find grassy and woody savannahs, undersized permanently wet forests, bamboo thickets, swamps, meadows and glaciers.

Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Yellowstone National Park - founded by the US Congress in 1872, it became the first national park in the country. The park occupies almost 900 thousand hectares and is located mainly on the lands of the state of Wyoming.

The main attractions of the park - geysers and Mammoth hot springs - make a huge number of tourists flock here from all over the world.

The geysers of Yellowstone are considered unsurpassed in their grandeur. The colossal power of geysers is hard to imagine - some of them throw out about 5 thousand tons of water at a time to a height of up to 100 meters. Each ejection lasts a few seconds, then the column of water falls and the geyser subsides until the next time.

Another attraction of the park is Mammoth Hot Springs. Over the centuries and millennia, hot waters saturated with various chemical impurities have formed deposits of complex and diverse shapes - streaks, stepped terraces, pyramids and even something like stalactites that suggest a cave located on the surface of the earth.

Most of the park is occupied by coniferous forests, in which many animals that are close to extinction in other areas have found refuge.

Here you can meet black, bison, elk and deer, as well as many smaller animals and a huge number of birds.

Monteverde National Park (Costa Rica)

In the 1960s, a group of scientists and local residents founded the Cloud Forest Reserve in Monteverde, which eventually included the watershed zone. Since then, the reserve has been expanded several times, and now it covers approximately 10,500 hectares.

This reserve is one of the most attractive places in Costa Rica. Every year, about 50,000 tourists climb the steep, winding dirt road to reach Monteverde. Numerous bird lovers and naturalists come here to observe all kinds of birds, animals and plants that have found refuge in the reserve and nearby areas.

Conclusion

In the 20th and 19th centuries, environmental pollution became a real problem for almost the entire planet. Waste can enter underground water supplies and cause serious harm to human and animal health. “We don't know what to do with all the chemicals produced by modern industry,” admitted a Hungarian scientist from the Budapest Institute of Hydrology. “We can't even keep track of them.”

Our goal is to preserve unique geothermal phenomena, grassy prairies, unique glaciers, breathtaking views, an abundance of life forms.

Information sources

1. www.nparks.ru
2. www.vokrugsveta.ru
3. Disks - Golden Globe "US National Parks
4. Dorysheva V. A. “National parks and reserves”
5. Zaikin S. N. “Wonders of the World”
6. Marchenkova A. V. “This wonderful world”
7. Shcherbakov V. I. “National parks of the world”

National parks help preserve the diversity of plant and animal species on our planet. The beauty that is created by human hands cannot be eternal. Only beautiful creatures of nature can die and be reborn again - they are eternal.

National parks of the world

Serengeti, Tanzania park

Some anthropologists claim that it is in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge that the cradle of the world is located. During archaeological excavations, a large number of remains of prehistoric animals and primitive people are found here. It is believed that the age of such finds exceeds two million years. The Serengeti is home to the largest population of large animals in Africa. There are more than three million heads here: rhinos, zebras, leopards, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, buffaloes, antelopes are found everywhere in these places. The local family of lions, numbering over three thousand individuals, is considered the largest in the world.

Of particular interest to tourists and scientists is the massive annual seasonal migration of animals. It happens twice a year.

During the dry months of the year, October and November, approximately one million antelopes and 220,000 zebras move from the northern part of the country to its southern regions in search of pastures. In April, when the rainy season begins in the south, huge herds, capable of astonishing people with their numbers, return to the north.

Lençais Maranhenses, Brazil

This unusual park is located in the Brazilian state of Maranhao, on the Gulf of Sao Jose. Its name is translated from Portuguese not too poetically - "Maranhao's underwear". This is due to the fact that from a great height its territory resembles white canvases stretched along the ground. This place causes controversy among scientists, as it has its own peculiarity. During the drought period, it is practically a lifeless desert, but after the rainy season, lakes form between the dunes. Moreover, for some unknown reason, after a few days these lakes become inhabited, filled with all sorts of living creatures: small fish and crabs. Such a rapid settlement of water bodies by living organisms causes numerous disputes among scientists. There are two opinions on this. According to the first version, the eggs are brought here by birds arriving to drink, and according to another, life is preserved from the previous period, renewing with the appearance of water.

Yellowstone Park, USA

Yellowstone National Park is unique due to its age: it is considered the oldest park on the planet, since it was founded back in 1872 by President Grant. There is enough of any animal here: moose, grizzly bears, cougars and bison feel excellent in the local forests. But the main feature of the park is not in the richness of the animal world. Tourists come here to look at the unusual landscapes of the valley of geysers. It all looks amazingly beautiful, only the smell of rotten eggs exuded by hydrogen sulfide fumes somewhat spoils the picture. At the bottom of Yellowstone Lake, several geysers are actively functioning at once, so all the trees near the lake are dead, covered with a snow-white coating of hydrogen sulfide.

Swaziland Hlane Park

Hlane Park is a habitat for leopards and lions. Only one person has the right to hunt in this reserve - the king of Swaziland. But, he, as a person who loves nature, comes here only once a year for the purpose of relaxing and admiring the beautiful animal kingdom, and not in order to exterminate innocent little animals.

Kronotsky Nature Reserve, Russia

The oldest nature reserve in Russia is known throughout the world as the territory where the largest population of brown bears lives. In addition, this is practically the only remaining place where beautiful wild reindeer are still found. But not even these wonderful creations of nature attract tourists from all over the world, but amazing Kamchatka landscapes. In a small area of ​​the reserve, at the moment, there are more than a hundred geysers and hot springs, as well as eight active volcanoes.

Nature reserve France Port-Cros

Port-Cros National Park is located on the island of the same name, not far from the French Cote d'Azur. Tourist visits to the park are strictly limited, no more than 1,500 per day. What is interesting in this place? Picturesque bays with white sandy beaches.

Tongariro, New Zealand

On the territory of the Tongariro National Park, nature has created real lunar landscapes, since three active volcanoes are located here at once (while there are only four of them in the country). In the distant past, this territory was a sacred place for the Maori tribe. She is currently known as Mordor from The Lord of the Rings.

The Cairngorms National Park in Scotland

Cairngorms received the status of a national park only in 2003. The lakes of the reserve are considered the cleanest reservoirs in Britain. A huge population of swans that flock to the local lakes gives these places a special picturesqueness.

Nordwest-Svalbard National Park, Norway

Spitsbergen is the realm of the animal world and the northern expanses. Arctic foxes, walruses, reindeer and polar bears live here. A real Christmas story. On the territory of the reserve there are traces of numerous polar expeditions.

Wood Buffalo National Park Canada

The owners of Wood Buffalo Park are powerful bison, there are about sixteen thousand of them. Tourists often come here in the summer not only to admire the mighty animals, but also to engage in outdoor activities. Hiking, cycling and canoeing tours are organized here. In winter, lovers of skiing visit the reserve, who are often rewarded by nature with a special prize - the opportunity to observe the northern lights.