Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks are home to the tallest trees in the world, the coast redwood. The Redwood National and State Parks include parks operated by both the National Park Service and the California State Park Service. There are a total for four parks included in the group: Redwood National Park, and the state parks Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods.

The state parks were established in the 1920s after years of logging in the old growth forests devastated the landscape and led to a movement to save the remaining forests. When Redwood National Park was established in 1968, almost 90 percent of the forests had already been destroyed.

In addition to the massive redwoods, the park offers oak trees, rivers, prairies and 37 miles of coastline.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Home to one of the  most active volcanoes on Earth, the Kilauea volcano,and one of the world’s most massive volcanic mass, Mauna Loa, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most popular attractions of the state and a sacred place for the native Hawaiians. The volcanoes are highly active and the volcanic activity is constantly expanding the island. Kilauea is called “the world’s only drive-in volcano”. In its current level of activity it generates 250,000-650,000 cubic yards of lava each day. The natives worship Pele, the volcano goddess, who lives here.

Spanning over 333,000 acres from the summit of Maunaloa to the sea, the park offers visitors about 150 miles of hiking trails. The part showcases extraordinary natural diversity and visitors can find volcanic craters, deserts and rainforests within the park precincts. Apart from the unique experience of watching the lava from Kilauea as it flows into the sea, the Kilauea Visitor Center, the Crater Rim Drive, the Halemaumau Crater, the Thurston Lava Tube, and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum form the key attractions of the national park.

Devils Tower National Monument United States

Devils Tower National Monument at Wyoming, United States

Spanning over an area of 1,347 acres, the Devils Tower is a monolith – an igneous intrusion of phonolite in Crook County, Wyoming in the Unites States. The Devils Tower is a United States National Monument located in the Black Hills above River Belle Fourche. Towering over the surrounding region at a height of 5,114 feet (above sea level), the monolith is a favorite with visitors who love the adventure of a good climb. More and more visitors these days are gravitating towards traditional climbing techniques due to the hundreds of natural cracks on its surface. The Devils Tower attracts over 400,000 visitors each year.

The Devils Tower stands out of the surrounding prairie like a God towering among mortals. This is perhaps the reason the tower is revered as a sacred spot by the Lakota and other native tribes of the region. The eight mile trekking trail is lined with dozens of varieties of wildflowers during spring. A ranger-led tour takes about an hour and half and is an educative experience opening up to the geography, culture, and biolife of the region.

Lago de Atitln in Guatemala

Lago de Atitln Guatemala

A crater lake (and an endorheic lake, meaning it does not flow into the sea), Lago de Atitln is the deepest lake in Central America, with a maximum depth 340 meters (1,115 feet). The lake is surrounded by the Maya people, whose towns offer a view into the local culture.

Three volcanoes loom over the southern bank of the lake, called San Pedro, Tolimn, and Atitln. The Atitln Lake formed after a volcanic eruption 84,000 years ago, its name meaning “at the water” in the local Nahuatl language. The volcanoes have left rich soils that are great for the cultivation of typical Central American crops, including coffee and squash, and support a variety of wildlife.

 Visitors to the lake can participate in many types of water activities, including swimming, diving, and kayaking. Other activities include tours of the volcanoes and hikes around the lake, and experiencing the local culture and markets in the towns.