YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YELLOWSTONE

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, OR SIMPLY YELLOWSTONE) — THE OLDEST AND ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS US NATIONAL PARKS. THE PARK IS LOCATED IN THE HEADWATERS OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER (FROM WHICH IT GETS ITS NAME) ON THE TERRITORY OF THE THREE STATES — IDAHO, WYOMING (MUCH OF THE PARK), AND MONTANA. THE PARK — ALMOST NINE MILLION SQUARE KILOMETERS (THIS IS MORE THAN THE AREA OF THE STATES OF DELAWARE AND RHODE ISLAND).

After the Civil War in the early seventies of the XIX century, the US government funded research northwestern regions of the country. In 1871, the area studied Yellowstone expedition led by American geologist and naturalist Ferdinand Hayden prepared a report on Yellowstone, illustrated by photographs of William Jackson and paintings by Thomas Moran, persuaded the US Congress in 1872 to pass a law on the establishment of Yellowstone National Park, the first US national park.

THE FIRST HEAD OF YELLOWSTONE PARK NATHANIEL LANGFORD WAS APPOINTED. AT FIRST, THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT FUND THE PARK, NOT EVEN PAYING WAGES TO THE DIRECTOR. THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER ONLY AFTER SEVERAL YEARS. THE NUMBER OF PARK VISITORS HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THE 1880 S, WHEN THE TOURISTS WERE ABLE TO VISIT THE AREA OF YELLOWSTONE ON NEWLY BUILT NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. IN THE FUTURE, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPED, KEEPING INTACT THE UNIQUE NATURAL SITES AND AT THE SAME TIME CREATING NEW FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS.

YEIIOWSTONE IAKE Five per cent of the Yellowstone Park is occupied by rivers and lakes. The area’s largest park Yellowstone lake — about 350 km 2, and its depth exceeds 115 meters. It is the largest in the US mountain lake. The park is almost three hundred waterfalls, the largest of them — Lower Yellowstone Falls (94 meters, almost twice as high as the famous Niagara Falls). Rivers cut through the park, two of the canyon, the depth of the Grand Canyon ( «Grand Canyon») Yellowstone River reaches 275 meters.

THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE NATIONAL PARK YELLOWSTONE In the forests of Yellowstone National Park — one of the few large areas in the US (and the world), which remained intact human nature activities. The park is a major component of the so-called Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which also includes the nearby National Park, Grand Teton, several state-protected forest and steppe areas.

FAUNA OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IS CONSIDERED THE RICHEST IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CONTINENTAL STATES OF THE USA. IT IS HOME TO GRIZZLY BEARS, WOLVES, LYNXES, COUGARS, COYOTES, WOLVERINES, BISON, ELK, DEER, ELK, WHITE-TAILED (VIRGIN) AND BLACK-TAILED DEER, PRONGHORN ANTELOPE, BIGHORN SHEEP AND MANY OTHER MAMMALS. A HERD OF BISON OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PARK IS HOME TO MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED SPECIES OF BIRDS (INCLUDING THE BALD EAGLE — ONE OF THE SYMBOLS OF THE UNITED STATES). IN RIVERS AND LAKES IN YELLOWSTONE LOTS OF FISH, AMONG WHICH IS ESPECIALLY PRIZED BY ANGLERS YELLOWSTONE SALMON (AS OPPOSED TO HUNTING, FISHING UNDER A SPECIAL LICENSE IS ALLOWED IN THE PARK)