I came upon Blog Action Day from Lakeviewer at sixtyfivewhatnow and again from Holli at Holli's Ramblings. I was unaware Global Action Day was October 15. Holli wrote about the removal of giant tree stumps in Ghana that are being taken to England for and exhibit to center on the issues of deforestation. If you have not done so read her article by clicking on the link above.My writings of late celebrate the beauty of the national forests and parks in the United States, but if it were not for the farsighted people who designated these areas we would not have them to enjoy... and we should never take them for granted. I am compelled to include in my blog today a bit of information about conservation efforts that have taken place in the United States and the wonderful results of those efforts.
Environmentalists & conservationists who come to mind are John Muir, Rachel Carson, Theodore Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, and Bill Clinton. The beautiful Muir Woods full of Redwood trees are found in Marin County just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, CA. Throughout her life Rachel Carson wrote about the need to protect our environment; her best known book is "Silent Spring".
President Theodore Roosevelt was responsible during his presidency for establishing five national parks (Crater Lake, Oregon; Wind Cave, South Dakota; Mesa Verde, Colorado; Sullys Hill, North Dakota; and Platt, Oklahoma). More information can be found by clicking on this link to Theodore Roosevelt and the National Park System.
Lady Bird Johnson was instrumental in bringing the attention of the beauty of the roadsides to the American people. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is located in Austin, TX and is dedicated to bringing knowledge of our native plants to all.
President Bill Clinton in 1996 designated (perhaps the last area put aside in our country) the Grand Staircase Escalante as a National Monument and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management rather than by the National Parks Service. This along with Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks are located in Utah. These are very near the Grand Canyon in which is located in northern Arizona and I have visited each.
Escalante - The Grand Staircase(Photo borrowed from the Internet)
Yellowstone National Park is my favorite of the parks I have visited (I spent 5 days on a horse-packing expedition in Yellowstone in the mid-1990s--one of my greatest experiences). In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law declaring that Yellowstone would forever be "dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." Yellowstone is a giant caldera where the vestiges of volcanoes can be seen. It is an amazing place to visit with its enormous lake, beautiful valleys and meadows, geysers and hot springs (which are extremely hot and acidic and deadly to humans and most animals). Just outside Yellowstone is the Grand Tetons National Park which I have driven past but not driven into for a visit.
Geyser at Yellowstone(Photo borrowed from the Internet)
Of course the Grand Canyon has high ranking and is especially on my mind as my husband & I recently had the pleasure of hiking and enjoying the views there. Several of my previous blog posts & a few more to come will have more photos of the canyon and its vastness. The majesty and beauty of the canyon is marred by a layer of smog hanging within the canyon brought forth from cities to the west and the south as well as from Mexico. It is sad that there is no longer purity in viewing the canyon. However, if you have never been it is a true wonder so see... and if you are from the U. S. make every effort to visit as many of our national parks and preserves as you can...
The Grand Canyon - Cape Royal PointImages above & below taken at Cape Royal Point
(Altitude 7865 ft or 2398 m)
I took these images and cannot do justice to the grandeur of the canyon.
