2015

S1.E1 ∙ Yellowstone (1872)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Yellowstone's system of geysers are the main reason it was established as America's first national park, a concept that spread. Yellowstone is the core of one of the last, nearly intact, natural ecosystems in the Earth's temperate zone.

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S1.E2 ∙ Sequoia (1890)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin Valley. Visitor activities vary by season and elevation. This landscape testifies to nature's size, beauty, and diversity.

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S1.E3 ∙ Yosemite (1890)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

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S1.E4 ∙ Mt. Rainier (1899)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Mount Rainier, an active volcano, stands as an icon in the Washington landscape, and is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. Subalpine meadows exist aside ancient forests, and wildlife abounds.

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S1.E5 ∙ Crater Lake (1902)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Located in southern Oregon, Crater Lake National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the United States. Crater Lake's Earth-blue waters, with islands that appear to float upon the lake itself, add to the Park's supernatural energy.

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S1.E6 ∙ Wind Cave (1903)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Swaying prairie grasses, forested hillsides, and an array of wildlife welcome visitors to one of our country's oldest national parks and one of its few remaining intact prairies. Secreted beneath is one of Earth's longest caves, Wind Cave.

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S1.E7 ∙ Mesa Verde (1906)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. The park protects nearly 5,000 archeological sites, among the most notable on Earth.

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S1.E8 ∙ Glacier (1910)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Glacier National Park located in Montana encompasses over 1,000,000 acres, and includes parts of two mountain ranges, over 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of plants, and hundreds of species of animals.

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S1.E9 ∙ Rocky Mountain (1915)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments and hiking trails. Trail Ridge Road, cresting over 12,000 feet, overlooks the pristine beauty of subalpine and alpine ecosystems.

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S1.E10 ∙ Haleakala (1916)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Haleakala is a special place that resonates with both ancient and modern Hawaiian culture, and it protects the bond between the land and its people. Haleakala also cares for endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else on Earth.

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S1.E11 ∙ Hawai'i Volcanoes (1916)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Volcanoes are monuments to Earth's origin, evidence that its primordial forces are still at work. During a volcanic eruption, we are reminded that our planet is an ever-changing environment whose basic processes are beyond human control.

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S1.E12 ∙ Lassen (1916)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to smoking fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to mold the land.

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S1.E13 ∙ Denali (1917)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Denali consists of 6 million acres of pristine wilderness in Alaska. The park's centerpiece, Denali peak, is the highest in North America. The land preserves one of America's most remote lands and helps keep the code of the wild intact.

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S1.E14 ∙ Acadia (1919)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Acadia National Park in Maine reserves much of Mount Desert Island and associated smaller islands off the Atlantic coast. Originally created as Lafayette National Park in 1919, it is the oldest National Park east of the Mississippi River.

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S1.E15 ∙ Grand Canyon (1919)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Beloved around the globe as an iconic symbol of America, the sights and sounds of the Grand Canyon dazzle like nothing else on Earth, and opportunities for outdoor activities are extensive. Mother Nature used her special paintbrush here

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S1.E16 ∙ Zion (1919)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Follow the paths of indigenous people and pioneers. Gaze at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Challenge your courage in a narrow slot canyon and be enchanted by Zion's flora and fauna.

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S1.E17 ∙ Hot Springs (1921)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Water. That is what first attracted people, and they have been coming here ever since to use the region's soothing thermal waters to heal and relax. Over time, a thriving city built up around the hot springs. Come discover it for yourself.

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S1.E18 ∙ Bryce Canyon (1923)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Bryce Canyon, the boundaries of which form the National Park in southwestern Utah, features naturally carved amphitheaters of epic proportion. The bold, natural hues and color of sand and stone dazzle in the sun and are an artist's dream.

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S1.E19 ∙ Grand Teton (1929)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Nestled in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, approximately 310,000 acres are dedicated to Grand Teton National Park. The park includes all major peaks of the 40-mile-long Teton Range, and contains pristine prehistoric ecosystems.

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S1.E20 ∙ Carlsbad Caverns (1923)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

The wonders of cavernous exploration come to life in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, located in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park is its' spectacular namesake, Carlsbad Cavern.

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S1.E21 ∙ Everglades (1934)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Everglades offers visitors an exciting journey into one of the wettest and wildest parts of the United States. Representing 20% of the original everglade landmass, the national park protects a wide range of indigenous plants and animals.

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S1.E22 ∙ Great Smokies (1934)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. The park is world renowned for its natural diversity, ancient mountains, and Southern Appalachian mountain culture.

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S1.E23 ∙ Shenandoah (1926)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah's 200,000 acres are your escape to cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, and quiet wooded hollows. Take a hike, meander along Skyline Drive, or picnic with the family.

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S1.E24 ∙ Olympic (1938)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Olympic National Park is a land of beauty and variety. A day's exploration can take you from mountain vistas with meadows of wildflowers to colorful ocean tide pools. Nestled in valleys are large, ancient forests of spectacular vibrancy.

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S1.E25 ∙ Kings Canyon (1940)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

This landscape testifies to nature's size, beauty, and diversity, replete with striking mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world's largest trees. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie side-by-side.

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S1.E26 ∙ Isle Royale (1940)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Explore a rugged, isolated island far from the sights and sounds of civilization. Surrounded by Lake Superior, Isle Royale offers unparalleled solitude and adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists, and scuba divers.

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S1.E27 ∙ Mammoth Cave (1941)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Mammoth Cave preserves the world's longest known cave system of complex labyrinths, as well as the Green River valley and land of south-central Kentucky. Early guide Stephen Bishop called the cave a "grand, gloomy and peculiar place."

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S1.E28 ∙ Big Bend (1944)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Big Bend in Texas represents the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, including more than 1,200 species of plants, 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals.

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S1.E29 ∙ Virgin Islands (1956)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

The hills, valleys, and beaches of Virgin Islands National Park are breathtaking, and worthy of ageless preservation. Dating back centuries, the history of the islands reveals a complex history of civilizations, both free and enslaved.

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S1.E30 ∙ Petrified Forest (1962)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Globally renowned for its Late Triassic fossils, Petrified Forest National Park attracts Geologists who study the Chinle Formation, archeologists who research 13,000 years of history, and biologists who explore the Arizona grassland.

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S1.E31 ∙ Canyonlands (1964)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Canyonlands preserves an environment created by the powers of erosion. Over time, the Colorado and Green Rivers have carved the park into four districts: The Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves.

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S1.E32 ∙ Guadalupe Mountains (1966)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the world's premier example of a fossil reef from the Permian Era. Extensive hiking and backpacking opportunities await visitors in one of the nation's most pristine wilderness areas in West Texas.

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S1.E33 ∙ North Cascades (1968)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

The North Cascades beckons your arrival. Discover a region adapted to persistent moisture in the west and recurrent fire in the east. Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers as well as cascading waterfalls and deep valleys.

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S1.E34 ∙ Redwood (1968)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Most people know Redwood National Park as the home to the tallest trees on Earth. Yet, the park also protects vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild riverways, and nearly 40 miles of pristine coastline supporting a mosaic of rich diversity.

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S1.E35 ∙ Voyageurs (1971)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

In the heart of North America, Voyageurs, you will find rocks half as old as the Earth. You can experience the life of a voyageur, immerse yourself into the boreal forest, view the clear night skies, or ply the interconnected water routes.

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S1.E36 ∙ Arches (1971)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Arches National Park in eastern Utah is known for preserving over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and land formations. Mother Nature is a profound artist.

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S1.E37 ∙ Capital Reef (1971)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Capitol Reef offers visitors a stunning array of landscapes, where light and shadow delicately streak across the stark and bold faces of rock and stone. Located in south-central Utah, Capitol Reef is 100 miles long, but quite narrow.

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S1.E38 ∙ Badlands (1976)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota protects 242,756 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States, all crafted by time's earthworks.

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S1.E39 ∙ Theodore Roosevelt (1976)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he could not have imagined how his adventure would forever alter the course of the nation. Roosevelt's experience would help shape future conservation policy.

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S1.E40 ∙ Channel Islands (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Channel Islands National Park consists of five of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean. Although the islands are close to California's shores, their isolation has left them relatively undeveloped.

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S1.E41 ∙ Biscayne (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Biscayne National Park in southern Florida, south of Miami, preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs, offering visitors some of the most remarkable aquatic experiences, above and below the water, anywhere in the United States.

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S1.E42 ∙ Gates of the Arctic (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Roughly the size of Switzerland, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska is the northernmost national park in the U.S. Like its brother and sister parks, Gates of the Arctic preserves a sacred part of wild America.

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S1.E43 ∙ Glacier Bay (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is comprised of 3.3 million acres of treasured natural wonders and wildlife near Juneau, Alaska. Magnificent glaciers, towering mountains, abundant wildlife, and miles of immaculate coastline.

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S1.E44 ∙ Katmai (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Katmai National Monument preserves the famed Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a spectacular forty-square-mile, 100-to-700-foot-deep, ash flow deposited by Novarupta Volcano in 1912. Katmai's remote wilderness is home to many brown bears.

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S1.E45 ∙ Kenai Fjords (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula is a land where the last Ice Age still lingers. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, and wildlife thrives surrounded by a vast expanse of ice where blue is depicted in a million hues.

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S1.E46 ∙ Kobuk Valley (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

For 9,000 years, people traveled to Onion Portage in Kobuk National Park to harvest the caribou as they crossed the river, a tradition that continues. Caribou migrate through the region, their tracks crisscrossing massive, sculpted dunes.

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S1.E47 ∙ Lake Clark (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Lake Clark National Park is a land where volcanoes steam, salmon run, bears forage, craggy mountains reflect in shimmering turquoise lakes, and local people rely on the land's resources. Solitude is found around every corner and riverbend.

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S1.E48 ∙ Wrangell-St Elias (1980)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park encompasses one of the tallest peaks in North America. Within this wild landscape, people have been living off the land for centuries. The park is a rugged, yet, inviting place to experience true adventure.

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S1.E49 ∙ Great Basin (1986)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

In the shadow of Wheeler Peak, 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines grow on rocky glacial moraines. Great Basin has the solitude of the desert, the smell of sagebrush after a thunderstorm, exquisite night skies, and the beauty of Lehman Caves.

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S1.E50 ∙ American Samoa (1988)

Wed, Dec 31, 2014

The National Park of American Samoa is an exotic national park in the American Territory of American Samoa, distributed across three stunning islands: Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta'u. It is the only American national park south of the Equator.

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