With a simple voice vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation to set aside 32,500 acres of official wilderness at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and to further protect Glacier National Park from oil and gas exploration.

The photographs you take while visiting a national park tell a story to your viewers, with or without accompanying words, as explained in this Big Bend tale by Rebecca Latson.

How far the national parks have come, from being described in the 19th century as unproductive wastelands to get congressional approval to now being described as economic engines that are behind nearly $27 billion in business.

An analysis of infrastructure across Canada's national park system says nearly 50 percent of the structures -- including roads, dams, and historic buildings -- are in poor condition.