http://www.us-parks.com/ The latest news and articles from US-Parks.com en-us Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 Photo of Stephen Mather feeding a squirrel in Yellowstone National Park, 1923. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 /articles.html Featured Park, Nature and News Articles. Read about the latest news updates by the National Parks Service, learn information about wildlife and nature or discover articles from team members at US-Parks.com. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /news-articles-new-dinosaur-discovered-in-dinosaur-national-monument.html A team of paleontologists from Dinosaur National Monument, Brigham Young University, and the University of Michigan has announced the discovery of a new, large, plant-eating dinosaur, Abydosaurus mcintoshi, (pronounced Ab-id-o-saurus mak-in-toshi). The discovery is described this week in the on-line first section of the science journal Naturwissenschaften. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /news-articles-state-parks-alliance-launched.html Americans demonstrated a strong demand for budget-friendly outdoor recreation and cultural tourism within easy access to home, with more than 725 million visits to state parks in 2009. Whether hiking in the Rocky Mountains, kayaking in the Chesapeake Bay, visiting an historic battlefield or surfing a Southern California beach, state parks ranked among the most important leisure time choices for Americans. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /nature-articles-respecting-wildlife-in-national-parks.html Traveling to National Parks is fun and exciting for kids of all ages, including us "big" kids. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the beauty and the nature that we stop thinking about what is "right" for the wildlife that lives in these gorgeous destinations. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /park-articles-lesser-known-parks.html Here we are compiling a list of the lesser known parks from the National Parks Service, Forest Service to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or even state parks. These sites might not be as famous as the well known Yellowstone and Grand Canyon's of parks but they each have their unique characteristics that make them spectacular places to visit. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /news-articles-martin-luther-king-jr-national-historic-site.html This week's National Park Getaway takes you to a place whose "walk of fame" outdoes Hollywood's star-paved path. While the walkway in California honors people who have entertained America, making us laugh, cry, and rivet our eyes to the silver screen, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame honors people who have helped America to be in greater truth a "nation with liberty and justice for all." Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /news-articles-national-parks-offer-star-studded-skies-in-2010.html "Thousands of people made that discovery last year, in part because 2009 was the International Year of Astronomy, 400 years after Galileo turned his telescope to the heavens," said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. "This year we'll introduce tens of thousands more visitors to the night sky through programs at about 60 national parks." Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /news-articles-secretary-salazar-announces-settlement-on-north-shore-road.html Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today that a settlement has been reached in a dispute begun in 1943 over a proposed 34-mile stretch of road through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Under the terms of the agreement signed today by the Department of the Interior, Swain County, North Carolina, and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Department of the Interior will pay up to $52 million into a trust fund established for the County. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /news-articles-neubacher-named-superintendent-of-yosemite-national-park.html Don Neubacher has been selected as the new superintendent of Yosemite National Park in California. Neubacher takes over from David Uberuaga who has been acting superintendent since Mike Tollefson retired last year. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /geology-of-great-sand-dunes-national-park-and-preserve.html Geologic History Great Sand Dunes National Monument is part of a geologic system that includes the San Luis Valley and the surrounding mountains. The structures created during the formation of these features now determine the characteristics of the dune field and the regional hydrology. Most of the data used to identify the structures come from gas exploration well logs and geophysical surveys. Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /geology-of-mount-rainier-national-park.html Mount Rainier has the largest collection of glaciers on one peak in the contiguous U.S. The mountain has 25 named glaciers and 50 smaller, unnamed glaciers and ice fields. In the Lower 48, Mount Rainier National Park has the thickest and most voluminous glacier, Carbon Glacier, and the glacier with the greatest surface area Emmons Glacier. Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /geologic-heritage.html Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we enjoy today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /geologic-wonders-national-parks.html The National Parks preserve spectacular icons of our nation's geologic heritage and contain some of the world's finest examples of geologic phenomena. From glaciers to barrier islands, from volcanoes to dinosaurs, the parks have it all including arches, canyons, caves, mountains and sand dunes. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /geology-of-grand-canyon-national-park.html Hailed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon exhibits the largest section of geologic time on earth. Hiking to the bottom, one passes through a third of the planet's age. The Park also contains excellent exposure of the world renowned Great Unconformity, an impressive angular unconformity, occupying 1.2 billion years in the rock record. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /geology-of-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park.html Hawaii Volcanoes National Park contains the world's most massive mountain, Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet and Kilauea, the world's most active volcano. Measured from its base on the seafloor, Mauna Loa rises over 30,000 feet, more than a thousand feet higher than Mount Everest. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /wyoming-ground-squirrel.html The Wyoming ground squirrel is a medium-sized squirrel averaging between 10 and 12 inches in length. It is brownish gray with a belly that is whitish to buff. The lack of stripes on its body distinguishes it from the golden-mantled ground squirrel. It often sits in an alert upright pose. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Change has always been a powerful force of nature. National parks and the stories they represent help us understand and appreciate how much our lives are influenced by change. They illustrate for us how interconnected we are with our environment whenever change occurs. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Learn about how the parks were formed from our geology pages as well as climate changes and the impacts they have on our parks. From Acadia National Park to Zion, from air pollution to water, natural sounds, geology and biology of parks. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /geology-of-national-mall-and-memorials.html The National Mall is a good place to visit if you want to learn about American history and be a historian. Because of all the different stones used in the construction of the memorials, it is also a good place to visit if you want to learn about rocks and be a geologist. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /index.html Interested in learning how America's National Parks came to be? These geologic wonders are just a few of the spectacular sceneries you will find exploring America's Natural Wonders. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /wildlife-facts.html Wildlife Fun Facts - Learn quick and fun facts about wildlife and nature. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Geologic heritage sites tend to have extraordinary visual appeal and represent a resource of great economic significance, which explains why Native Americans and early explorers, miners and pioneers were drawn to them. Over time, as Congress added to the National Park System, the variety and diversity of geologic features in parks has come to represent America's geologic heritage. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 /crocodiles-and-alligators.html It is not uncommon for many to mistake the difference between crocodiles and alligators. At first sight, they do look quite similar. However, there are some very distinguishing ways to determine if you are looking at a crocodile or an alligator. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700