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Drought has gripped much of the Southwest for 20 years so far, maybe a little longer. The situation has seen Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area drop to about one-third of its full capacity, and Lake Mead downstream is running low, as well. Reduced flows below the Glen Canyon Dam into Grand Canyon National Park have impacted the ecology of that grand canyon and the recreational experience it long has offered.
"The Everglades," and the "river of grass." Those words convey powerful imagery of a sweeping, subtropical landscape, one with rare and beautiful plants, flights of colorful birds that can cloud the sky, and curious and fearsome wildlife, from crocodiles and alligators to panthers and, more recently, massive constricting snakes.
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. It was designated a national park in 1926 and fully established and opened in 1941 -- 80 years ago. At 412 miles, the cave itself is nearly twice as long as any other known cave system. Geologists believe there may even be a couple more hundred miles of undiscovered passageways.
What has been your experience in the National Park System this year? Have you found lots of crowds, or has your experience been more enjoyable because you haven’t encountered scores of other visitors milling about? Crowding in the National Park System is not new, but is it threatening the integrity of the parks, their natural resources, and how you experience them?
Mountain lions in California, in and around Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, have many challenges they must overcome to survive. The species faces a continuous onslaught of threats -- from poaching, disease and poisoning to drought and wildland fires. But one threat tops them all -- a fragmented habitat that prevents this stealthy and solitary creature from safely accessing the huge territory it needs to find genetically diverse mates.
A whopping $38 million has been raised to date for the construction of a wildlife corridor over the 101 Freeway west of Los Angeles. When completed, the overpass will be the largest in the world, spanning 10 lanes of highway and access roads and connecting the fragmented wildlife habitat around the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It will benefit all wildlife in southern California’s richly diverse ecosystem, but especially the declining mountain lion population.
In 1814 Fort McHenry in Baltimore was a regular army garrison. That year Britain, at war with France since 1793, sailed up the Chesapeake Bay with 5,000 soldiers and a plan to retaliate American attacks in Canada. British troops fought a battle at Bladensburg, Maryland, and went on from there to seize control and burn a number of government and military buildings in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Capitol.
When traveling to a national park, not everything goes as planned. Maybe you’ve been disappointed about the crowds. Or maybe couldn’t find lodging. Or maybe you weren’t able to squeeze in everything you wanted to do. But have you ever found yourself complaining about scenery that you determined to be substandard…or dismissing the exact feature for which the park is known? Today the Traveler’s Lynn Riddick -- with voice talent courtesy of Susan Emerson and Stuart Eldridge -- talks to a graphic designer and illustrator wh
How can aspiring scientists and researchers get a hand in conducting research in the National Park System? Ryan and Julie Sharp, who both spent time working for the National Park Service, work to raise funds for scholarships for college students hoping to conduct research in the parks.
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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
