Biology and Ecology. The ecosystems of RNSP preserve a number of rare animal species. At least 400 bird species have been documented in the forestlands. The Brown Pelican and Tidewater Goby are federally listed endangered species that live near the Pacific coastline. The Bald Eagle, which usually nests near a water source, is listed as a threatened species, a designation which includes vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered species, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service; the state of California lists it as endangered. The Chinook salmon, Northern spotted owl (APPENDIX C, Ill.56), and Steller’s sea lion are a few of the other animal species that are threatened. Over 40 species of mammals have been documented, including the black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, beaver, river otter, black-tailed deer, elk, and coyote. Along the coastline, California Sea Lions, Steller Sea Lions and Harbor Seals live near the shore. Dolphins and Pacific gray whales are occasionally seen offshore. Roosevelt elk are the most readily observed of the large mammals in the park. Many smaller mammals live in the high forest canopy. Different species of bats, such as the big brown bat, and other smaller mammals including the red squirrel and northern flying squirrel spend most of their lives well above the forest floor. Reptiles and amphibians can also be found in the parks, with the northwestern ring neck snake, Northern Red-legged Frog, pacific giant salamander, and the rough-skinned newt most commonly seen.

     It is estimated that old-growth redwood forest (APPENDIX C, Ill.57) once covered close to 2,000,000 acres (8,100 km²) of coastal northern California. 96 percent of all old-growth redwoods have been logged, and almost half (45 percent) of the redwoods remaining are found in Redwood National and State Parks. The native range of coast redwood is from the northern California coast north to the southern Oregon Coast. The tree is closely related to the Giant Sequoia of central California, and more distantly to the Dawn Redwood which is indigenous to the Sichuan-Hubei region of China. Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth. Redwood trees develop enormous limbs that accumulate deep organic soils and can support tree-sized trunks growing on them. The soil mats provide homes to invertebrates, mollusks, earthworms, and salamanders. During drought seasons, some treetops die back, but the trees do not die outright. Instead, redwoods have developed mechanisms to re-grow new trunks from other limbs. These secondary trunks called reiterations. Another large tree commonly found in the forest is the Coast Douglas-fir. The evergreen hardwood tanoak produces a nut similar to the acorns produced by the related genus Quercus (oak). Both tanoaks and oaks are members of the beech family. Trees such as the Pacific Madrone, Bigleaf Maple, California laurel, and red alder are also widespread throughout the parks. Huckleberry, blackberry, and salmonberry are part of the forest understory and provide food for many animal species. The California rhododendron and azalea are flowering shrubs common in the park, especially in old-growth forest [37].

     Some information for visitors. Other than the DeMartin Redwood Youth Hostel, low-amenities shared lodging facility; there are no hotels or motels within the parks boundaries. However, nearby towns such as Orick provide small hotels and inns, with extensive lodging options available in the regional trading centers of Crescent City on the northern end of the park and Arcata and Eureka located to the south. While the state parks have front country campsites that can be driven to, the federal sections of the park do not, and hiking is the only way to reach back country campsites. Back country camping is by permit only and is only allowed in designated sites, except on gravel bars along Redwood Creek. Access to the back country is highly regulated to prevent overuse while permitting as many groups as possible to explore the forest. Almost 200 miles (320 km) of hiking trails exist in the parks, but during the rainy season some temporary footbridges are removed, as they would be destroyed by high streams. Throughout the year, trails are often wet and hikers need to be well prepared for rainy weather and consult information centers for updates on trail conditions.

     Horseback riding and mountain biking are popular but are only allowed on certain trails. Kayaking is popular along the seacoast and in the various rivers and streams. Kayakers and canoeists frequently travel the Smith River. A California sport fishing license is required to fish any of the rivers and streams. Hunting is not permitted anywhere in the parks, but is allowed in nearby National Forests.

     The park has three visitor centers, where guided nature walks and general information are available, along with two additional information points. Each campground offers campfire talks during the summer months as well as guided tours. The parks have many picnic areas, which are all easily accessed by vehicle [38, Pp. 72-75]. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CONCLUSION 
 

     The United States of America is a country of beautiful views and natural sights. This country is famous for its National Parks. A national park is an area protected by the national government of a country in order to preserve a scenic landscape, species of plants and animals, or structures and artifacts of historical importance. The USA was the first country where National Park appeared. It was Yellowstone National Park, which was established in March 1, 1872.

           Today, the United States has 58 protected areas known as National Parks. The newest National Park is Great Sand Dunes, established in 2004. Twenty-seven states have National Parks, as do American Samoa and the United States Virgin Islands. Alaska and California, each with eight, have the largest number of National Parks, followed by Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest National Park is Wrangell – St. Elias, at over eight million acres, followed by three more in Alaska; the smallest is Hot Springs, at less than six thousand acres. All National Parks are operated by the National Park System and Service. The National Parks System has rather complicated system and structure, different projects, and programs. The National Park Services budget is divided into two primary areas, discretionary and mandatory spending. Within each of these areas, there are numerous specific purposes to which Congress directs the services activities.

     Last year, Americans created very interesting and rather successful project about their National Parks: «The National Parks: America’s Best Idea», a 2009 documentary film. 

     Working in a National Park Unit is a rather complicated process. It demands a lot of specialists. Today, there are more than eighteen career paths (jobs) in the service.

     The USA National Parks System has its own Environment Programme. This programme coordinates the United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. UNEP has aided in the development of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, trans boundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways.

     Today, American National Parks attract many tourists from all over the world. There is a top 5 of the most popular National Parks among the tourists: Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Big Bend National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Redwood National Park. Each park has its own special characteristics. These are the unique facts that stand out parks among other American Natural Sights.

     Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho): situated on the Yellowstone Caldera, the first national park in the world has vast geothermal areas such as hot springs and geysers, the best-known being Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. The yellow-hued Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River has numerous waterfalls, and four mountain ranges run through the park. There are almost 60 mammal species, including the gray wolf, grizzly bear, lynx, bison, and elk.

     Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona): the Grand Canyon, carved out by the Colorado River, is 277 miles long, a mile deep, and up to 15 miles wide. Millions of years of exposure have formed colorful layers of the Colorado Plateau in mesas and canyon walls. Ecosystems vary on the north and south rims and elevation within the Sonoran Desert.

     Big Bend National Park (Texas): named for the Bend of the Rio Grande along the US-Mexico border, this park has part of the Chihuahuan Desert, ancient fossils, and cultural artifacts of Native Americans.

     Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming): Grand Teton is the tallest mountain in the Teton Range. The park’s Jackson Hole valley and reflective piedmont lakes contrast with the tall mountains, which abruptly rise from the glacial sage-covered valley.

     Redwood National and State Parks (California): this park and the co-managed state parks protect almost half of all remaining Coastal Redwoods, the tallest trees on Earth. There are three large river systems in this very seismically active area, and the 37 miles of protected coastline have tide pools and sea stacks. The prairie, estuary, coast, river, and forest ecosystems have varied animal and plant species.

     National Park is a unique place for nature, plants, animals, and, of course, for all people. Our environment depends only on people’s attitude to life. To save our planet is a main aim of person’s life.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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