National parks represent a magnificent collection of high-contrast landscape types and experiences. In them you can walk through magical forests, spectacular mountains, glaciers, lakes or volcanoes of incredible beauty, in an exciting encounter through the best natural environments in the world. They are natural reserves that you should visit at least once in your life.
The first national park in the world was established in the United States, in Yellowstone. It was not intended to be a radical new idea for a young nation but it was the ‘best idea in America’ despite being a practical solution to a territorial argument. It was supposed to become a state park, but Yellowstone’s land was in three territories and none of them were yet a state. Hence, the United States Congress decided to convert it into a federal park. “
Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park on March 1, 1872 (later the National Park Service would be created in the US on August 25, 1916 along with the establishment of many other natural parks) .
The National Park Service, now in its 100th anniversary, cares for 409 parks spread over more than 84 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories. These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military and historical parks, historic sites, scenic rivers, coastlines, recreational areas, trails, and even the White House.
As a curiosity, the European Day of National Parks is celebrated every year on May 24, in commemoration of the declaration of the first European national park in Sweden on May 24, 1909, which aims to remember the key role of parks in the conservation of nature and the opportunities they offer us for social well-being.
