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.

Cleopatra’s Needle, UK

The Cleopatra’s Needle at London, England

Cleopatra’s Needle in London is a granite obelisk, which is all of 68 feet and weighs 180 tons. This obelisk originally dates back to 1500 B.C. and was built for Tuthmose III. The Hieroglyphics praising Tuthmose and honoring his third Sed festival can be found on the obelisk along with engraved inscriptions by Ramessses II which was added much later to commemorate his hard earned victories.

This mammoth granite obelisk was presented to the people of Great Britain in the year 1819 as an acknowledgement of Nelson’s victory over the marauding French armada, at the infamous battle of Nile in the year 1798. Apart from the obelisk, a portrait of Queen Victoria and other Victorian era artifacts are also found.

However, it took almost 60 long years to actually bring this mammoth obelisk to Britain. No British government was gallant enough to overcome the obstacles of shipment of this obelisk from far away Egypt to Britain. Not only was the shipment of the obelisk a daunting task, it also involved enormous expenses. Had it not been for the generosity of Mr. Erasmus Wilson who dished out a staggering £10,000 to bear the expenses of shipment, this marvelous granite obelisk would have probably remained buried in the sands of Alexandria until the end of time.

During World War I, Cleopatra’s needle suffered a minor damage, courtesy the air raids. A portion of the plinth and one of the sphinxes, which bore the brunt of the attack, is clearly visible.

Today, Cleopatra’s Needle, London is an integral part of London’s tourist landmark.