Bali Barat - national park in the northwest of the island of Bali, which received the status of a nature reserve in 1917. In 1941 it became an Indonesian national park.
On an area of 760 sq. km there are tropical forests, jungles, dry savannas, mangrove swamps, as well as acacia thickets and alpine forests. In the north of the park is the protruding Prapat Agung peninsula. Protected beaches and coral reefs are located around it, as well as the small coastal island of Menjangan - popular destination for diving. There are several in the east extinct volcanoes... The highest of them are the Patas Mountains (1,412 meters) and the Merbuk (1,388 meters).
One hundred and sixty bird species have been recorded in the park, including the nearly extinct Balinese starling. First of all, it was for him that the park was created. In 2001. there were only six individuals of this bird in the world, and all of them were in this park.
The fauna is represented by deer, black monkeys, flying foxes, wild boars, macaques, squirrels, snakes, reef herons, black Indian cuckoos, etc.
90 percent of the territory is closed to the public, and only a few routes are accessible to tourists accompanied by official guides.
The most popular route through the tropical jungle is the climb of Mount Gunung Klatakan. In addition to the stunning scent emanating from the many orchids, the path will be decorated with black monkeys, hornbills and even flying foxes.
No less popular water routes running along Gilimanuk Bay through the mangrove forests that line the coast. Several dainty dark gray Pacific reef herons can be spotted here.
American television channel CNN ranked 30 most beautiful national parks in the world. The evaluation criteria were the beauty of nature and picturesque places, safety and hospitality. local residents... The TV channel drew attention to the fact that US parks are not included in the rating.
30 PHOTOS
1. The first place in the ranking was given to Iguazu Falls National Park in Argentina. It is believed that surrounded tropical nature the waterfalls on the Iguazu River are one of the most beautiful and spectacular places on earth. (Photo: REUTERS / Jorge Adorno). 
2. The second place in the ranking was taken by the Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. 30 percent of the park is covered with ice, which is why it is also called the glacier park in Patagonia. (Photo: 123 RF). 
3. Third place: another National Park of Argentina - Nahuel Huapi, which is located in the Andes at an altitude of 767 meters above sea level. (Photo: 123 RF). 
4. Fourth place: National preserve Gandoca Manzanilla in Costa Rica. 
5. Fifth place in the ranking: Tikal National Park in Guatemala. It includes one of the largest and most famous archaeological sites in the world - the most important center of the Mayan civilization Tikal. (Photo: 123 RF). 
6. Sixth place in the ranking: National Park Rapa Nui, which is located on Easter Island (Chile) and is famous for its stone sculptures - moai. It is believed that it is the most geographically inhabited island in the world from other islands and lands. (Photo: 123 RF). 
7. Seventh place: Torres del Paine National Park located in the Chilean part of Patagonia. According to scientists, the park is 11 million years old. (Photo: 123 RF). 
8. Eighth place: Canaima National Park, located in the southeast of Venezuela. This is where the most high waterfall in the world - Angel. (Photo: Flickr / Heather Thorkelson). 
9. Ninth place: National Park of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Famous galapagos turtles, which gave the name to the islands, are the longest-livers among animals - they live for more than two hundred years. (Photo: 123 RF). 
10. Tenth place: Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. The park has vast wastelands where birds nest. (Photo: Flickr). 
11. Eleventh place: Goreme National Park in Turkey, which is also a museum under open air- there are 350 rock-cut Byzantine churches. (Photo: 123 RF). 
12. Twelfth place: Tatrzanski or Tatrinsky National Park - the only alpine park in Poland, created to protect unique mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. (Photo: Marek Podmokly / Agencja Gazeta). 
13. Thirteenth place: Croatian Plitvice Lakes National Park, which includes 16 beautiful karst lakes connected by waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
14. Fourteenth place: Victoria Falls National Park - located on the Zambezi River in Zambia. (Photo: 123 RF). 
15. Fifteenth place: Kruger National Park - oldest park in South Africa, which is part of the Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere Reserve. (Photo: 123 RF). 
16. Sixteenth place: Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. Its area is almost 50 thousand square kilometers, mostly deserts, and is one of the largest protected areas in the world. (Photo: 123 RF). 
17. Seventeenth place: Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Even in the dry season, a lot of moisture remains here, which is very important for the ecosystem and animals. (Photo: Flickr / ninara). 
18. Eighteenth place: Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, on its territory there are many water cascades that are loved by water birds. (Photo: 123 RF). 
19. Nineteenth place: Halgurd Sakran National Park in Iraq, which includes Mount Halgurd 3607 meters high. (Facebook / press material). 
20. Twentieth place: the deserted Ein Avdat National Park in Israel, which guards the beautiful territory of a canyon, inhabited during the time of the first Christians by monks and Nabateans. (Photo: 123 RF). 
21. Twenty-first place: Zhangjiajie National Park in China. It was here that the famous film "Avatar" was filmed. (Photo: 123 RF). 
22. 22nd Place: Naejangsan National Park in South Korea- it is especially beautiful in autumn. The park is hiding in the Nejangsan Mountains south of Seoul. (Photo: 123 RF). 
23. Twenty-third place: Pagsanhan Gorge National Park in the Philippines. It includes the largest waterfalls in the country. According to legend, before the appearance of the waterfalls, two twins lived in this place. Once, after a severe drought, one of them died, then the second twin climbed the high rocks and began to curse the gods, when suddenly a source began to beat from under his feet, which laid the foundation for the waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
24. Twenty-fourth place: Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka, whose main pride is a large population of elephants. (Photo: 123 RF). 
25. Twenty-fifth place: Sundarban National Park - a tiger and biosphere reserve in India. (Photo: 123 RF). 
26. Twenty-sixth place: Bannerghatta National Park in India. Part of the park is nature reserve where more than a hundred species of birds, many mammals (including elephants, bears, leopards) and insects are under strict protection. There is also a rescue center for animals. (Photo: Flickr / Nisha D). 
27. 27. Bandhavgarh National Park, home to the largest population of tigers in all of India. (Photo: 123 RF). 
28. Twenty-eighth place: Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park in Australia. The famous red-brown mountain Uluru (Ayrs Rock) changes color depending on the angle of incidence of light. (Photo: 123 RF). 
29. Twenty-ninth place: Blue Mountains National Park in Australia. The name "Blue Mountains" comes from the blue eucalyptus trees growing on the slopes of the mountains. (Photo: 123 RF). 
30. Thirtieth place: Paparoa National Park in New Zealand, the main attraction of which is the limestone cliffs of pancakes, as well as beautiful caves. (Photo: 123 RF).
The first National parks that protected natural societies appeared in the 16th century. However, the first National was discovered only at the end of the 19th century, in the USA. This really high honor was given to the unique Yellowstone Plateau, rich in geysers and hot mineral springs where Yellowstone National Park was discovered in 1872. In 1916, the Service was created in the United States. national parks... US national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Jasper, Olympic and others are now well known outside of North America.
The best reserves and national parks in the world
Since then, many national parks... The first national park in Europe was established in 1914 in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Then, in 1922, the Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy was opened. The first national park in France there was Vanoise, created in 1963. It borders the Italian Gran Paradiso for 14 kilometers. There are seven national parks in France, three of which are located in the Alpine crescent, stretching from France to Austria. The alpine crescent also contains other famous national parks of the world: Berchtesgaden in Germany, Hohe Tauern in Austria, Stelvio in Italy and Triglav in Slovenia.
Yellowstone - USA National Park
Yellowstone National Park- probably the most famous national park of the world... It is located on the border of the American states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The park, founded on March 1, 1872, is famous for its numerous geysers, and Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest alpine lakes in North America- located in the crater of the largest supervolcano on the continent. Therefore, most of the park is covered with solidified lava.
There are almost three thousand geysers in Yellowstone, which is two-thirds of all geysers in the world. The largest geyser in the world, the Steamer, is located here, as well as one of the most famous geysers in the world - the Old Faithful geyser. The latter throws jets of hot water to a height of more than forty meters, and the interval between eruptions is from 45 to 125 minutes. In addition to Yellowstone, there are only four geyser fields in the world - the Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka, as well as fields in Iceland, Chile and New Zealand.
In addition to geysers, there are about ten thousand various geothermal springs in the park, including hot and hydrogen sulfide springs and mud volcanoes... Yellowstone is home to half of all geothermal sources in the world. In addition, about two thousand species of plants grow here, there are several hundred species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Name " Plitvice Lakes"Was first recorded in 1777, in 1949 the lakes received the status national park, and 30 years later were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are 16 large karst lakes, 140 waterfalls, 20 caves in the park. Moreover, Plitvice Lakes are one of the few national parks a world where new waterfalls are born every year. A characteristic feature of the park is the color of the water. The pictures of the lakes look like a photomontage, but the water here is really azure. You can admire it from the wooden decks, the total length of which reaches 18 km.
The park also contains hiking trails, the walk along the shortest of which takes two hours, and the longest one - eight. A boat also runs along the lakes, and mountain roads can be surveyed using an electric train with observation cars. It is strictly forbidden to swim in the lakes of the park, as well as to have picnics, make fires, and bring dogs. In addition, a unique beech and coniferous forest grows here, which has been preserved since ancient times and has the ability to regenerate itself.
Snowdonia, UK
Snowdonia National Park, located in the north of Wales, was created 60 years ago and became one of the first three national parks in England and Wales. The park owes its name to Mount Snowdon (1085 m), which is the highest point in Wales.
Unlike nature reserves in other countries, Snowdonia, like other national parks in the world, includes both public and private lands. Moreover, about 26 thousand people live on the territory of the park, while about 6 million tourists visit it annually. Snowdonia has 2,381 km of open hiking trails, 264 km of hiking and horse riding trails, and 74 km of other open roads. Moreover, Mount Snowdon can be reached either by a scenic 13 km long hiking trail or by a funicular. At the same time, the routes of several historical railways pass through the park.
Grand Canyon, USA
The Grand Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world located on the Colorado Plateau, in American state Arizona. Its length is 446 km, and its depth reaches 1600 m. The canyon is cut by the Colorado River in the thickness of limestone, shale and sandstone about 5-6 million years ago. These are perhaps the most complete geological outcrops in the world represent the history of the Earth over 1.5 billion years. Moreover, the canyon continues to grow today.
About 2 million people visit the Grand Canyon Reserve every year, and the most popular among tourists is rafting in Colorado. The climate on the plateau and at the bottom of the canyon differs sharply - when at the top it is about fifteen degrees Celsius, at the bottom of the gorge, among the hot stones, the temperature rises to plus forty. Therefore, most tourists prefer to admire the canyon from observation platforms located on its banks. After all, in order to descend to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, it will take more than one hour.
Serengeti, Tanzania
The Serengeti National Park is famous for the huge number of animals living in this area. According to scientists, about five hundred species of birds and three million individuals of large animals live here. Moreover, a significant part of the animals (wildebeest and zebras) annually migrate from the north of the park, where drought occurs, to the south. With the onset rainy season in April-June, animals migrate west and north. It is also home to the largest lion population on the planet of any national park in the world. The Serengeti is also home to thousands of elephants, gazelles, hyenas, hippos and rhinos. And the name of the park in the Masai language means "endless plains", because most of the Serengeti is an endless savannah.
Fiordland, New Zealand
Fiordland National Park- the largest in New Zealand, it occupies most mountainous southwestern part South Island... Here are the most deep lakes New Zealand, and the mountains in this part of the island reach a height of 2,746 meters. Fiordland is still one of the most inaccessible areas in New Zealand. In addition to picturesque fjords, waterfalls and rushing rivers, the park is famous for its rich flora and fauna.
In dense forests, rare species of birds live, for example - cockatoo parrots. During a visit to Fiordland, you can see bottlenose dolphins or penguins. One of the most popular places in the park is Milford Sound, which the famous writer Rudyard Kipling called "the eighth wonder of the world." The bay is about 16 km long and surrounded by majestic mountains more than a kilometer high. Moreover, this is one of the wettest places on the planet: only every third day here is not marked by rain.
Iguazu, Argentina-Brazil
Name waterfall "Iguazu" comes from the Guarani words y (water) and guasu (large). Legend has it that God wanted to marry a beautiful aboriginal woman, but she fled with her lover in a canoe. In anger, God cut the river, creating waterfalls, dooming lovers to eternal fall.
Today, a complex of 270 waterfalls has formed on the Iguazu River. Par is located on the border of the Brazilian state of Parana and the Argentine province of Misiones. The border between the countries is marked by the Devil's Throat waterfall, which is 150 m wide and 7000 m long. This is the largest waterfall in the complex. The height of the fall of water on Igausu reaches 82 meters, but at most waterfalls it does not exceed 60 meters. You can see the waterfalls thanks to the bridges, the total length of which is about 2 km.
Banff National Park, Canada
The oldest banff national park was founded in 1885. In the southern part of the park there are two trans-Canadian highways - the railroad and the highway. It is when laying railroad in 1883, hot springs were accidentally discovered in caves on the eastern slopes of the mountains. Two years later, these places were recognized as unique and taken under protection.
The park was named “ Rocky Mountain Park”And became the first national park in Canada and the second established in North America, after Yellowstone National Park. Today it is one of the most visited national parks in the world. After all, here you can find everything that is associated with Canada: extraordinary beauty landscapes and the smell of firs. There are glaciers, hot springs, hiking trails, ski slopes... The center of the park is the highest locality Canada, the city of Banff., Located at an altitude of 1463 m above sea level.
Torres del Paine, Chile
Torres del Paine National Park located in the south of Chile, in Patagonia. The name of the park, translated from the language of the Araucanian Indians, means "Blue Towers". It is precisely three needle-like granite mountains, the height of which ranges from 2600 to 2850 m, that have become the symbol of the national park. The very same high point Torres del Peine is the Payne Grande mountain with a height of 3,050 m.
There are two routes in the park. One of them takes 4 days, the second - about a week. Moreover, the park is one of the most visited tourist sites in Chile. There are glaciers here high mountains, lakes, forests, many animals and birds live, and among the flowers you can even find orchids.
Tatras, Poland-Slovakia
The two Tatra National Parks - one in Poland and the other in Slovakia - share a common border of 64 km. This is the most high part Carpathians, the length of which is about 60 km. These mountains were formed by glaciers, so there are many U-shaped valleys in the Tatras, mountain lakes with incredible clean water... Green areas and bare rocks occupy more than a quarter of the national park.
Flora of the Tatras is made up of over a thousand plant species, and the chamois can be called a living symbol of the park. This is a small animal from the subfamily of goats weighing 30-35 kg, covered with thick wool. Despite conservation measures, these animals are still on the verge of extinction. There are also deer, wild boars, roe deer, as well as wolves, bears and lynxes in the park. Due to its varied relief, the Tatras are a favorite vacation spot for alpine skiing enthusiasts.
National parks help preserve the diversity of plant and animal species on our planet. The beauty that is created by human hands cannot be eternal. Only the beautiful creatures of nature can die and be reborn again - they are eternal.
National parks of the world
Serengeti, Tanzania park
Some anthropologists claim that it is in the Olduvai Gorge of Tanzania that the cradle of the world is located. During archaeological site find here a large number of remains of prehistoric animals and primitive people. It is believed that the age of such finds is more than two million years. The Serengeti Reserve is home to the largest livestock of large animals in Africa. Here there are over three million heads: rhinos, zebras, leopards, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, buffaloes, antelopes are found everywhere in these places. The local lion family, numbering over three thousand individuals, is considered the largest in the world.
Of particular interest to tourists and scientists is the massive annual seasonal migration of animals. It happens twice a year.
During the driest months of the year, October and November, approximately one million antelopes and 220,000 zebras move from the northern part of the country to its southern regions in search of pastures. In April, when the rainy season begins in the south, huge herds, capable of striking people with their numbers, return to the north.
Lensice Maranhenses, Brazil
This unusual park located in the Brazilian state of Maranhao, by the Bay of São Jose. Its name from the Portuguese language is not translated too poetically - "Maranyan's linen". This is due to the fact that with great height its territory resembles white canvases stretched on the ground. This place causes controversy among scientists, as it has its own peculiarity. During the dry season, it is an almost lifeless desert, but after the rainy season, lakes form between the dunes. Moreover, for some unknown reason, after a few days these lakes become inhabited, filling with all kinds of living creatures: small fish and crabs. Such a rapid settlement of water bodies with living organisms causes numerous controversies among scientists. On this score, there are two opinions. According to the first version, the eggs are brought here by birds arriving at the watering hole, and according to the other, life is preserved from the previous period, resuming with the appearance of water.
Yellowstone Park, USA
Yellowstone National Park is unique due to its age: it is considered the oldest park on the planet, since it was founded back in 1872 by President Grant. There are enough animals here: moose, grizzly bears, cougars and bison feel great in the local forests. But the main feature of the park is not in the richness of the animal world. Tourists come here to look at the unusual landscapes of the valley of geysers. It all looks amazingly beautiful, but the smell of rotten eggs, exuded by the fumes of hydrogen sulfide, somewhat spoils the picture. At the bottom of Lake Yellowstone, several geysers are actively functioning at once, so all the trees near the lake are dead, covered with a snow-white bloom of hydrogen sulfide.
Swaziland Hlane Park
Hlane Park is a habitat for leopards and lions. Only one person has the right to hunt in this reserve - the king of Swaziland. But, as a person who loves nature, he comes here only once a year for the purpose of rest and admiring the beautiful animal kingdom, and not in order to exterminate innocent animals.
Kronotsky Nature Reserve, Russia
The oldest reserve in Russia is known all over the world as the territory where the largest population of brown bears lives. In addition, this is practically the only remaining place where beautiful wild reindeer can still be found. But it is not even these wonderful creations of nature that attract tourists from all over the world, but the amazing Kamchatka landscapes. On a small territory of the reserve, at the moment, there are more than a hundred geysers and hot springs, as well as eight active volcanoes.
Port Cros Nature Reserve of France
Port Cros National Park is located on the island of the same name, not far from the French French Riviera... Visiting tourists to the park is strictly limited, no more than 1500 per day. What's interesting about this place? Picturesque bays with white sandy beaches.
Tongariro, New Zealand
On the territory of Tongariro National Park, nature has created real lunar landscapes, since there are three active volcano(while there are only four of them in the country). In the distant past, this territory was sacred place for the Maori tribe. She is now known as Mordor from The Lord of the Rings.
Cairngorms National Park in Scotland
Cairngorms received the status of national park only in 2003. The lakes of the reserve are considered the cleanest bodies of water in Britain. A huge population of swans that flock to local lakes makes these places especially picturesque.
Nordwest-Svalbard National Park, Norway
Svalbard is the kingdom of the animal kingdom and the northern expanses. Arctic foxes, walruses, reindeer and polar bears live here. A real Christmas tale. On the territory of the reserve there are traces of numerous polar expeditions.
Wood Buffalo National Park Canada
The owners of Wood Buffalo Park are the mighty bison, there are about sixteen thousand of them. Tourists often come here in the summer not only to admire the mighty animals, but also to do active rest... It organizes hiking, cycling and canoeing excursions. In winter, the reserve is visited by lovers of skiing, who are often rewarded by nature with a special prize - the opportunity to observe the northern lights.
The first park appeared on earth before our era. But today philanthropists are still alive who do not allow beauty to disappear from the face of the earth. The more a person encroached on the values of nature, the more actively parks grew. In Europe, they appeared already in the 10th century, then in the States, and later in Africa.
Countries with reserves and national parks make up the majority of all states. A national park or nature reserve is a part of pristine nature that civilization has not walked through. In the States, parks are created exclusively for recreation, in Russia - for nature conservation, in Asia - a combination of the first and the second.
Man is a curious creature. Avoid beauty? No, he's hitting the road.
Features of ecotourism
Traveling to parks and reserves is in stark contrast to other types of tourism. It has a name - ecological tourism. The name is conditional. It is also called "soft", "green", "natural", the essence does not change. Some people refer to it as "adventure travel" and, perhaps, come closest to the truth.
Millions travel every day! Few venture into ecotourism. Sometimes these travelers are called "psychos". But isn't that a praise? A person is alive as long as he is able to commit insane acts.
The main feature of ecotourism is to give up comfort. The postulate is not to harm nature.
Important Factors
What gives people nature? I would like to say - everything. She makes him understand the meaning of existence, i.e. the ability to look into yourself. The further a person moves, the more thirst grows in him, the wider his needs become: to look into every corner, to reach the essence. Few people decide on such a trip alone, that is, there is another opportunity - to get to know better the one who is next to you: friend or foe.
Ecological tourism is also our feasible contribution to their safety.
Countries and continents
- Voroninsky nature reserve, Russia.
- Reserve "Kuznetskiy Alatau", Russia.
- Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus.
- Levens Hall, England.
- Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany.
- Oulanka Park. Finland.
- Swiss old park.
- Rangel St. Elias, a park in the United States.
- Greenland National Park, the largest in the world.
- Limpopo Park, Africa.
- Kruger Nature Reserve, Africa.
- The oldest African reserve Serengeti,
- Snowdonia, North Wales.
- Taman Negara, a park in Malaysia.
- Alnwick, Poison Garden, England
Do you dare to take such a journey?
Can a child go on such a journey? Quite if there is a reliable person nearby. A pensioner can do it, the main thing is to choose the right route. If you are "thirsty", tired of routine - go for it. You will not just relax, you will learn a lot of interesting things, you will look at the world with different eyes! And on myself too.
If you are taking a green trip, follow it:
- Leave all care in your native land,
- Imagine yourself as Robinson Crusoe
- Think about how you will do without the usual things,
- Take what you can't do without,
- While traveling, eat the foods that will be offered to you,
- Be patient, accept different concepts, different language, different rules, remember - you are a guest,
- Be sure to keep a diary!
Principles
Why are nature reserves and national parks important? The ability to preserve the pristine.
Going on a journey, do not look back at others, only you are responsible for your life. No human being can “nourish” the soul in the way that nature, which you touch, will do.
Nature reserves and national parks of the world updated: March 3, 2019 by the author: GlonassTravel
