Parks Us PeacockLukovitzMediaPost: The Best National Parks and Natural Areas in the United States

Parks Us PeacockLukovitzMediaPost If you are planning a trip to the United States, you will want to visit some of the parks and natural areas that are available. There are several different places you can go, including the National Museum of Natural History, the National Zoo, the National Park Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

1. National Parks

A national Parks Us PeacockLukovitzMediaPost is a place to visit. They offer scenic views, hiking trails and even winter sports to name a few. National parks are also good for the environment. Fortunately, there are plenty of them in the U.S. and they are well protected. This has allowed the country to be home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. For example, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Yellowstone national park in Montana, and the majestic grandeur of Yosemite National Park in California.

Vast Wilderness of Alaska

The National Parks Us PeacockLukovitzMediaPost system of the United States is a government initiative dedicated to protecting natural landscapes, wildlife, and heritage sites. As such, the nation boasts a number of awe-inspiring places to see, from the vast wilderness of Alaska to the tropical paradises of Hawaii. With such a rich resource at its disposal, it is no surprise that National Parks are considered an important part of the culture.

2. National Zoo

The National Zoo is located in Washington, D.C., and is operated by the Smithsonian Institution. It is a public zoo that attracts 2 million visitors each year. In addition to the animal collection, the zoo hosts live entertainment and special keeper talks.

Most Important Functions of Zoo

One of the most important functions of the zoo is its research, and the Conservation Ecology Center has been working to recover endangered species. Another facility, the Migratory Bird Center, is working to understand the ecology of birds in Latin America:

• As the public becomes more informed and discerning, the way that zoos care for animals is scrutinized.
• With this in mind, the National Zoo introduced a master plan for improving park exhibits.
• This plan is expected to be implemented in 2008.

The National Zoo also hosts a series of public educational programs about the world’s wildlife. These programs include a study of bird population declines, an environmental coffee certification course, and a specialized program for wildlife professionals.

3. National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC is the largest natural history museum in the world. This institution’s purpose is to inspire discovery about the natural world. Here you can see a variety of exhibits that will interest all ages.

Located on the National Mall, the museum is a part of the Smithsonian Institution. It contains over 126 million artifacts, photographs, and specimens. There are permanent exhibitions and multimedia exhibits.

One of the most popular exhibits is the Fossil Hall. Here, you can see 700 specimens that date back millions of years. You’ll also find early insects and reptiles.

Sant Ocean Hall

Another popular exhibit is the Sant Ocean Hall. This showcases the biodiverse world of the sea. In this room, you can see an exact replica of a North Atlantic right whale.

4. National Marine Fisheries Service

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) works to protect the marine ecosystem. It operates as a federal agency and is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NMFS has a budget of $1 billion and employs 4,800 people.

NMFS’s Regulatory Program

NMFS’s regulatory program is one of the most active in the federal government. In addition to overseeing fisheries, the agency is responsible for marine mammals, sea turtles, and Johnson’s sea grass. NMFS also oversees a seafood inspection program.

NMFS works with eight regional fishery management councils, or FMCs. These councils are composed of state fishery officials and commercial and recreational fishery interest groups. They develop regulations, policies, and fishery management plans.

NMFS is also responsible for the recovery of marine species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Its regulations must be in accordance with the goals of the act. Those goals include maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and protecting the economic value of those ecosystems.

5. National Park Service

In a nutshell, the National Park Service is a federal agency responsible for managing and protecting some of the nation’s most treasured natural and historic sites. The agency’s top notch efforts can be credited for a booming economy in which a reported 252,000 jobs are created annually. It’s also responsible for protecting over 27,000 structures and 2 million archaeological artifacts.

Parks Us PeacockLukovitzMediaPost a more positive note, the agency has managed to promote the safe and responsible use of its properties while encouraging visitors to leave nothing behind. Besides the obvious likes, the agency has helped preserve 421 species of threatened or endangered animals.

Conclusion:

Parks Us PeacockLukovitzMediaPost the agency’s smallest tidbits include its most recent additions, its oldest relics remain the same. This includes the original National Park Service headquarters building, which dates back to 1896.