----------------+------------+----------+-------------------------------- | | _Area in | _National | _Location_ | square | _Distinctive Parks_ | | miles_ | characteristics_ ----------------+------------+----------+-------------------------------- | | | Hot Springs | Middle | 1-1/2 | 46 hot springs possessing (1832) | Arkansas | | curative properties--Many | | | hotels and boarding-houses-- | | | 20 bathhouses under public | | | control. | | | Yellowstone | North- | 3348 | More geysers than in all rest (1872) | western | | of world together--Boiling | Wyoming | | springs--Mud volcanoes-- | | | Petrified forests--Grand | | | Cañon of the Yellowstone, | | | remarkable for gorgeous | | | coloring--Large lakes--Many | | | large streams and waterfalls-- | | | Vast wilderness inhabited | | | by deer, elk, bison, moose, | | | antelope, bear, mountain | | | sheep, beaver, etc., | | | constituting greatest wild | | | bird and animal preserve in | | | world--Altitude 6000 to | | | 11,000 feet--Exceptional | | | trout-fishing. | | | Yosemite (1890) | Middle | 1125 | Valley of world-famed beauty-- | eastern | | Lofty cliffs--Romantic | California | | vistas--Many waterfalls of | | | extraordinary height--3 | | | groves of Big Trees--High | | | Sierra--Large areas of snowy | | | peaks--Water-wheel falls-- | | | Good trout-fishing. | | | Sequoia (1890) | Middle | 252 | The Big Tree National Park-- | eastern | | 12,000 sequoia trees over 10 | California | | feet in diameter, some 25 or | | | 36 feet in diameter--Towering | | | mountain-ranges--Startling