Research Post 4: National Park Safety

I decided that for this post I would talk about safety in national parks. Safety is such an important aspect of travel that people should be educated on; especially in an environment that is significantly different from every day life. While national parks may not present dangers that you would encounter in a city, they present many different dangers that one should educate themselves upon travel.

Driving in national parks is much different than every day driving; they present new and unique hazards that visitor may not expect. These hazards include: road navigation difficulty, high amounts of animals near the roadways, and unusual weather conditions. To prepare for these potential hazards, the United States’ government recommends visitors strictly obey all traffic laws including seat belt use and speed awareness. Additionally, it is suggested that drivers keep an open eye out for excessive amounts of animals and wildlife on the roadways during night and morning.

Another common activity in all national parks is hiking; an activity that presents many dangers as well. Hiking in a national park can present one with many dangers that they aren’t commonly exposed to as well. This includes, the possibility of getting lost, falling, attacked by bears and other animals, shortage of supplies, and other foreign dangers. To prepare for these hiking hazards, the United States’ Government recommends that hikers to never travel alone; this reduces the risk of getting lost or stranded. Additionally, it is recommended that hikers practice proper animal and bear safety to prevent attacks. Finally, it is recommended to pack more than enough water, food, and clothing while hiking, to prevent dangerous shortages.

Research Post 3: Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is a beautiful national park located in Oregon. Crater lake, the deepest lake in the United States, formed thousands of years ago due to the accumulation of rain and snow in the caldera of a now dormant volcano, Mount Mazama. The park is known for its beautiful lake surrounded by high cliffs and forrest. In Crater Lake National Park, it is common to see black bears, deer, marmots, bobcats, eagles, and hawks, while hiking through the trails. This national park is also very famous for its clean and quality air; according to National Geographic, you can see for over a hundred miles at many points along its trails. 

Crater Lake National Park has many attractions throughout each season. In the summer, many people visit the park to view and explore the lake by fishing, swimming, and ranger guided boat tours. Other summer attractions include camping out, exploring the hiking trails, and participating in other evening and ranger led activities. In the winter, visitors participate in many snow based activities such as cross country skiing, ranger led snow shoe hikes, and snowmobiling.

While Crater Lake National Park appears to be a beautiful park, I do not feel as if this is one that I would be interested in visiting; I do not have much interest in participating in what the park has to offer. However, I do believe that while this park is not for me, it has lots to offer to lake lovers.

Sources:

• “Crater Lake National Park – National Geographic.” National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
• United States. National Park Service. “Crater Lake National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 03 Nov. 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

Denali National Park

Denali National Park and Preserve is a national park and preserve located in central Alaska. The six million acre park is centered on the highest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley. The landscape of this national park consists of a mix o Denali Wilderness was established within the park. Denali’s landscape is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, tundra at its middle elevations, and glaciers, rock, and snow at the highest elevations. Denali National Park is filled with lots of wildlife, particularly, moose, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, and wolves.

This park is visited by 400,000 people annually. Activities among visitors include viewing wildlife, mountain climbing, and backpacking. Wintertime activities differ from summer activities; they include they include dog-sledding, snow-machining, and skiing. The park is not necessarily easily accessible; it is a 5 hour drive from Anchorage, and a 3 hour drive from Fairbanks. However, there are trains that people take to Denali as well.

I would love to visit this national park because it contains a beautiful landscape of forest, mountains and glaciers. I have never experienced a glacier before and that is something that I have long wanted to see. Hopefully I will be able to visit this park one day soon.

Sources:

“Denali National Park | Best Hotels, Tours, Trails, Wildlife Spots.” Alaska.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.

“Denali National Park and Preserve.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.

United States. National Park Service. “Denali National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 15 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

Research Post 1: Arches National Park

Today I am writing about a place that I have wanted to visit for a very long time; Arches National Park. This is a national park located in Utah that consists of many unique geographical features. It is most famous for its plentiful amount of sandstone arches; a rock formation that is created due to weathering. The national park resides on a bed of salt, which has been a large contributor for the erosion; a very long time ago, a jurassic sea evaporated into a bed of salt. Over time, sandstone and other deposits started to collect atop of this bed, and as the bed of salt eroded away, just the deposits were left behind; creating the formation that exists today.

Arch in Arches National Park

This national park is a very famous attraction to lots of people who enjoy beautiful landscapes. Arches National Park is also a huge attraction for those who like to stargaze; it is one of several designated dark sky zones in the United States, which means that there is a very very limited amount of light pollution.

Earth and Sky – Arches National Park

 

I have two lists of the many places I would one day like to visit; in the United States, and in other countries. Arches National Park is high on my list of places to visit. One of my favorite experiences includes a night that I spent camping in the desert in Israel; I often look to recreate this experience. I think that a trip to Arches National Park would be very similar. I look forward to experiencing this park one day in the near future.

 

Sources

“Arches National Park.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 Oct. 2014. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arches_National_Park