A national park is a protected territory to preserve the fauna and flora of the place.
A national park is land that a country dedicates to the preservation of local flora and fauna . The purpose is to prevent nature from suffering serious damage from the overexploitation of resources, construction and other human activities.
For example: "Last summer we visited a national park in Patagonia" , "The environmental group denounced that the government does not protect the national park as it should" , "This national park has an area larger than that of several European countries" .
It should be noted that park is a term with several uses. The most frequent refers to the area that has trees, plants, flowers and spaces intended for rest and leisure. These are public green spaces . National , for its part, is an adjective that indicates what is linked to a nation (a concept generally associated with the idea of country).
Characteristics of a national park
The area protected by a national park usually has scientific interest (due to the presence of native species) and landscape interest (due to the beauty of its landscapes). Beyond their importance for the protection of ecosystems , national parks become important tourist destinations.
In this sense, national parks are usually open to the public, who can tour them and carry out various activities on their surface (camping, swimming in a lake, mountaineering, etc.). State authorities are responsible for taking care of the facilities and the region through park rangers or other officials who are trained to safeguard natural resources.
Kruger National Park is one of the most famous in the world.
Some examples worldwide
Zhangjiajie, China
The impressive mountains of Zhangjiajie inspired James Cameron to create the landscapes for his hit film "Avatar" , and this in turn increased the popularity of the Chinese national park, making it a must-see destination for its tourists . The more than a thousand meters above which the Huang Shi Zhai stands never ceases to impress its visitors , who can climb it by cable car or by a dizzying staircase. The combination of its pointed formations and the fog creates dreamlike images.
Great Smoky Mountains, United States
Its name can be translated as Great Smoky Mountains and is located in the Apache mountain range . It is a national park that receives more than ten million visitors each year and covers more than 2,000 square kilometers, crossing the states of North Carolina and Tennessee . Although most people who visit its landscapes do not stay in the park for more than a day, there are ten campsites that have everything you need to camp for long periods. Some of the mammals whose beauty complements the vegetation of the Great Smoky Mountains are the black bear, deer, and red wolf.
Blue Mountains, Australia
The Blue Mountains National Park is located a few kilometers from the city of Sydney and its name arose from the color of the leaves of its eucalyptus trees. This park is also visited by millions of people a year and offers different attractions, among which the spectacular images of the Edge Cinema stand out, which allows its audience to experience the beauty of the place from the most extreme points, and the Scenic Skyway cable car, a means of transportation thanks to which it is possible to appreciate the Jamison Valley from above. As expected in a natural area of Australia , there is no shortage of koalas and kangaroos.
Kruger, South Africa
Kruger is located in the province of Limpompo and is considered the king of national parks , a title that largely explains the volume of visitors it receives each year. Unlike other African natural spaces, which rely on safaris , Kruger allows its public to explore its landscapes by car, at least during the day, since the company of a guide is mandatory at night. In addition to its natural attractions , such as having the largest number of animal species of all the national parks in the world , it has 21 campsites that fit the needs of any traveler.