The unknown superpowers of national parks.
- Kinga Zujko
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Over the years national parks have become quite important to human culture. They are some of the most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors every year. Sadly, many people forget that they aren’t just the outdoorsy version of Disneyland and shouldn’t be treated as just another amusement park.
The first national park
Yellowstone National park is undoubtedly the most iconic of all national parks and the oldest one as well. The unique atmosphere and natural phenomena which can only be found in the park have made it a world-view known attraction and let it gain its spot in every American's heart. However, the fame it has rightfully obtained shouldn’t overshadow the issues that caused it to be created in the first place.
Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 and is commonly thought to be the first of its kind. The Yellowstone National Park Protection Act was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant in order to save the natural wonders of the park from private development. It’s worth noting that Congress was convinced to approve of this act by the work of artists. Sketches, paintings and photographs showcasing the park's breath-taking beauty captured the hearts of Congress and proved to them that it’s protecting.
Modern parks
In 1872 the state of the world was drastically different to how it was today. Global warming and the greenhouse effect had just been discovered and were only beginning to take their toll on the world. Yellowstone National Park was founded to protect the land from human expansion and industrialisation, not more complex and complicated issues like climate change. Unfortunately, the same remains true today. National parks can only separate vulnerable and unique areas from being exploited and destroyed, not changes to the atmosphere which affect the entire planet. However, this is exactly what makes them special. They are possibly the closest thing we will ever have to time travel. They allow us to see the beauty of the untouched state of the world and appreciate it too. This is why national parks are an extremely important factor of environmental education. They serve as a living classroom which allows students to have an immersive learning experience that will stay with them for a long time. They also offer an environmentally friendly and healthy way to spend free time and connect with nature such as hiking along educational trails. While enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and myriads of activities which national parks offer it’s important to remember that they can only continue to have those conditions, if we respect the rules which made it possible for them to exist in the first place.
How to be a good tourist?
First and foremost, a good tourist respects a national park and the rules that stand there. This should be easy as most rules are the same amongst different parks. Sadly the three most crucial ones are also the ones which get ignored most often. However, understanding why they are enforced can sometimes help to follow and respect them more. Respecting wildlife is just as important to the wildlife itself as it is to you. You never know how a wild animal might react so for the safety of everyone involved, please leave the adorable little bear cubs alone. Feeding poor fawns also won’t do them any good. It will just cause them to become over-dependent on humans instead of learning to thrive on its own. It may even cause the animal to starve when it stumbles into an environment when it can no longer depend on human support.
Many say that national parks are nature’s version of historical monuments. That means they should be treated as such-with respect and care so that they can be preserved for future generations. In practice this transfers to disposing of waste properly, following existing trails to avoid harming fragile ecosystems and leaving plants, rocks and other natural objects as you found them. The last rule applies to almost every situation a human can find themselves in and it’s quite simple-just be considerate . Treat your fellow visitors with respect, avoid causing loud and obnoxious noises and share the trail space with others. Remember you are not alone out there. Following all these rules should grant you an experience of a lifetime and ensure that your visit did not bring any harm to the park.
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