US National Parks Solar Power Energy
Generation Guide
US National Parks Will Take Your Breath Away
By Genevieve Thomson
It doesn’t really matter which of the US national
parks you visit, you are going to discover gorgeous
scenery and wildlife that will take your breath away.
You can, however, find a few parks that can boast of
traits not seen elsewhere.
While the culture of Europe or Asia might offer amazing
sights created by ancient cultures, the United States
has an unrivaled natural history of its own. This is
a condensed view of the places that need to be seen
to be believed.
Yosemite National Park
California’s Yosemite National Park is the size of
Rhode Island. When it comes to its massive features,
though, this is only the beginning. Its Yosemite Falls
are over a mile high, while its El Capitan is the world’s
largest granite monolith, coming in at nearly 3,600
feet.
The park’s huge Sequoia trees are literally a living
piece of history. If you want to get an incredible view
of the entire park, head to Glacier Point. You’ll see
the Valley, as well as the famous Half Dome. Yosemite
National Park is truly one of the most awe-inspiring
parks in our entire US national parks system.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park was the very first US national
parks and the prototype of many future parks. Home to
nearly 300 geysers including the infamous Old Faithful
Geyser, Yellowstone sits atop an active volcano bed
centered over Yellowstone Lake which has been theorized
to erupt only a few times over the past two million
years.
Hot springs, steam vents, and waterfalls heated by
the lava flows just beneath the surface provide extraordinary
scenery for any visitor of the US national park. Life
still teems in every corner of this hostile environment.
From the colorful micro-organisms found at Mammoth Hot
Springs to the bald eagles soaring overhead, Yellowstone
proves that life can propagate anywhere.
Grand Canyon National Park
Upon first glance, the Grand Canyon National Park seems
to be ripped off of an alien planet and dropped in northern
Arizona. The canyon itself is a wonder to behold unmatched
by anything else in the national parks system. Carved
out by the winding Colorado River, some parts of the
canyon are a mile deep and eighteen miles wide creating
multi-colored vistas revealing the Earth’s prehistoric
past.
The south rim is where most of the more popular scenery
can be found because it is the most easily accessible.
The north rim is a much longer drive but has been touted
by many explorers to have the best views of the canyon
inside this beauty of US national parks.
Ride The Rapids Down The Colorado River
The canyon is the main event for this park but there
are plenty of side shows to explore: ride the rapids
down the Colorado River, explore the Hermits Rest history
landmark, or hike in the backcountry to discover your
own secret part of the Grand Canyon. Whatever you do
here, you will leave with new respect of the grandeur
of nature.
Certain US national parks blur the line between scenic
icon and thing of wonder. We have covered only a few
of the ones that remind us of how amazing our parks
can be. There are many local, regional, and other national
parks that hold a rich history in their roots or that
have spectacular scenery worthy of our respect.
About the Author:
Genevieve Thomson has written a number of articles on
solar power and renewable energy including
Solar Power System,
Wind And Solar Power,
Solar Thermal,
Alternative Power Systems,
Alternative Energy Sources, Ethanol
Fuel , Alternative
Fuel Vehicles, Wetland
Ecosystems, Curbside
Recycling, Deforestation,
Forest
Ecosystems, Waste
Management, Recycling
Programs, Reduce
Reuse Recycle, Waste
Collection.
Look out for new articles as they become available on
this site.
Little Known Facts About National Parks.....
How can I get involved?
The National Park Service offers
a variety of ways for citizens to become involved. One
of the most common ways to help is to become a National
Park Service volunteer. Volunteers in Fiscal Year 2005
contributed a total of 5.2 million hours. Volunteers
are needed in a surprising array of positions from campground
host to gardener to historical re-enactor.
Visit the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov
for details on current opportunities. Volunteers may
be compensated in some way such as a free campsite,
although compensation varies by park. If you log 500
hours within a year, you will receive a Volunteer Pass
that works similarly to an Annual Pass for federal parks.
Youth programs for Americans aged 5 to 24 are managed
in partnership with many agencies from the Scouts to
Job Corps. The youth programs are designed to give children
and young adults the opportunity to become more familiar
with the national parks through a combination of education
and work experience.
It is believed that the early experience with the
national parks will build a lifelong respect and concern
for the parks specifically as well as preservation as
a whole.
Internships are available to students in a variety
of majors. An internship provides hands on experience
in the students field of study. Please visit the NPS
website at www.nps.gov
for information on applying for an internship.
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