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National parks are naturally beautiful. Most parks
were declared parks to preserve the wild beauty that makes them so
amazing. While nearly all these protected areas are pretty, a number are
simply amazing in their beauty. Take a look at the list of the most
beautiful national parks in the world.
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1. Snowdonia, Wales
As you might suppose from the name, Snowdonia National Park is set on
Snowdon Mountain. The mountain is 3560 feet tall and as picturesque as
it is peaceful. Lakes and rivers are set amid trees and rocky
outcroppings, making it the perfect place to practice photography.
Visitors will also find old buildings, including several castles within
park borders. The history of the area is full of folk tales and legends
and makes it an even more exciting place to visit. |
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2. Grand Canyon, the United States
The Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon over hundreds of years,
creating an amazingly complex canyon. Tourists flock to the site every
year to admire it or even to hike down and camp in the myriad of
channels cut out by the water. The Grand Canyon is one of the Natural
Wonders of the World and has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage
site. It stretches over more than 1,200,000 acres in Arizona. |
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3. Kruger National Park, South Africa
One of the largest national parks in the world, Kruger covers millions
of acres of land. It is host to an amazing number of African species,
including elephants, giraffes and many other animals. You can check
these animals out from viewing towers scattered throughout the park.
Apart from the towers, development is nearly nonexistent and the park
fends for itself in most ways. |
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4. Deosai, Pakistan
Deosai National Park is best known for its impressive flowers. Every
spring, thousands of different types of flowers bloom. They form a
living carpet of color that attracts an even larger variety of
butterflies. The park is certainly worth seeing in the spring, though it
is lovely all year round. Another point of interest would be the park’s
incredible plateaus, some of the highest in the world. |
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5. Kakadu, Australia
The Australian government and the aboriginal people work together to
manage the Kakadu National Park. It is a World Heritage site and the
amazing views attract tourists year round. One of the more interesting
attractions is the aboriginal rock art that can be found in the area. It
is also home to a range of animals, including the saltwater crocodile. |
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Hortobagy, Hungary
Hortobagy National Park was the first national park in Hungary. It’s an
official refuge for wild horses and home to a number of endangered
birds. The park is a bird watcher’s paradise, with plenty of migratory
waterfowl, too.
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7. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
If you head into inland Croatia, you will find Plitvice National Park.
It is an area of mountainous terrain ideal for hiking and a number of
lakes and streams. The unique thing about the water in the park is that
most of the lakes and streams contain travertine. This gives the water a
clarity seldom found in nature, as well as a very bright blue-green hue.
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8. Madain Saley National Historic Park, Saudi
Arabia
Where many national parks are heavily forested, Madain Saley is almost
entirely made up of desert and rock. It is still one of the most
beautiful sights you’ll see, however, particularly when you come across
one of the amazing oasis scattered throughout the park. An ancient
burial ground is also located on the site. It’s estimated that the more
than 125 tombs and facades were cut from rock somewhere between 500 BC
and 100 AD. They are still in amazing condition and certainly worth a
visit if you’re in the area.
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9. Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
Nepal has a unique, wild look to it and Sagarmatha is no exception. The
park contains a number of Sherpa villages, as well as a few monasteries.
Here you will find Mount Everest, as well as its sister mountains, so
the national park sees quite a bit of traffic. Several animals make
their home here, including mountain goats that balance precariously
along seemingly sheer rock cliffs. |
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10. Iguazu National Park, Argentina and Brazil
The Iguazu National Park runs through Argentina and into Brazil. It
protects the subtropical rainforest here, as well as the Iguazu Falls.
The falls are actually made up of hundreds of waterfalls around a curved
cliff. Visitors to the falls can take a boat to get a closer look or can
walk through the various waterfalls by crossing catwalks. The park is
home to a wide range of wildlife, including howler monkeys, jaguars,
tapirs, and caimans.
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