Earlier this week I mentioned the fact that the National Park Service was giving free entry into all the national parks across the U.S. With Father's Day coming this Sunday, it's perfect time too, as you can take dad out to his favorite wilderness spot and enjoy the day. If you're having trouble deciding which park you'd most like to visit, then fear not, as I have two stories that may help to clear up the problem.

First up, over at GORP.com they've put together a list of the their picks for the Top Ten National Parks for Wildlife Viewing. The parks that make this list are not only amazing for the wildlife that is on display however, but the natural beauty of the landscapes is generally unrivaled as well. This lists reads a bit like a "who's who" of national parks, with places like Yellowstone and Denali taking up much deserved spots. Top to bottom this is a great list, with opportunities to spot bear, moose, elk, deer, wolves, and much more depending on which one you select, and several of these are amongst the most visited parks in the U.S. for a reason.

Two caveats on this list. First, because this list has some of the most popular parks in the country on it, you may find them crowded during the summer months, and you may find them especially crowded on a "fee free weekend". The other thing that I'd point out, is that Big Bend makes this list, and it is spectacular and generally free from anything that remotely resembles a crowd. However, you do not want to visit it in the summer months, when it is hot and dry. Wait until after October. Trust me!

The second story you might want to check out when looking for ideas on which parks to visit is one that I wrote for Gadling today. It lists my selection for five national parks to visit this weekend which is based on the criteria that they are spectacularly beautiful and tend to be less crowded than the really popular parks. For instance, I selected Crater Lake, which is well off the beaten path, but offers a ton of outdoor adventure in an amazingly beautiful environment that most people outside of the state of Oregon don't even know exists. Other selections include the Badlands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Conagree and Great Basin.

And if you can't take advantage of one of these parks this weekend, never fear. Fee free weekends return on July 18-19 and again on August 15-16. Get out there and enjoy our natural wonders.

- oryginal post by : - http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com/

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I would like to invite you on viewing of new photo gallery which pictures :

Yosemite National Park - photo galery part 2.

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* Previous story : - Yosemite National Park - photo galery part 1.

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1. Yosemite National Park - photo galery part 1.

2. Yosemite National Park - photo galery part 2.

I would like to invite you on viewing of new photo gallery which pictures :

Yosemite National Park - photo galery part 1

- oryginal post by : – http://www.slide.com/

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The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 km2in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. The area comprising the Tikauli forest-from Rapti river to the foothills of the Mahabharat-extending over an area of 175 km2 was declared Mahendra Mriga Kunj (Mahendra Deer Park) by the late King Mahendra in 1959. In 1963, the area south of Rapti River was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. The area was gazetted as the country's first national park in 1973, recognizing its unique ecosystems of international significance. UNESCO declared RCNP a World Heritage Site in 1984,In 1996 an area of 750 km2 surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone, which consists of forests and private lands including cultivated lands.

The park and the local people jointly initiate community development activities and manage natural resources in the buffer zone. His Majesty's Government has made provision of to provide 30-50 percent of the park revenue for community development and natural resource management in the buffer zone.

The park consists of a diversity of ecosystems-including the Churia hills, Ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise slowly towards the east from 150 m. to more than 800 m. The western portion of the park is comprised of the lower but more
rugged Someshwor hill. The park shares its eastern boundary with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

Climate.

The park has a range of climatic seasons each offering a unique experience. October through February with average temperatures of 25oc offer an enjoyable climate. From March to June temperatures can reach as high as 43oC, The hot humid days give way to the monsoon season that typically lasts from late June until September, Rivers become flooded and roads are impossible.

In late January, local villagers are allowed to cut thatch grasses to meet their needs, which offers a better viewing of wildlife to visitors. September ,November , February and April, migratory birds join the residential birds and create spectacular bird watching opportunities. While the monsoon rains bring lush vegetation, most trees flower in late winter. The palash tree, known as the "flame of the forest' and silk cotton tree have spectacular crimson flowers that can be seen from a distance.

Flora & Fauna.

The Chitwan valley consists of tropical and subtropical forests. Sal forests cover 70 percent of the park. Sal leaves are used locally for plates in festivals and religious offerings.

Grasslands cover 20 percent of the park. There are more than 50

different types of grasses, including the elephant grass (Saccharum spp ), renowned for its immense height. It can grow up to 8m in height. The park is home to more than 50 mammal species, over 525 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles. The endangered fauna found in the park are: One-horned rhinoceros, Gaur. Royal Bengal tiger. Wild elephant, Fourhorned antelope, Pangolin, Golden monitor lizard, Python, etc. Bengal florican. Lesser florican, Giant hornbill, Black stork, While stork, etc.

Facilities.

The display at the visitor centre at Sauraha provides fascinating information on wildlife and conservation program. The women's user groups' souvenir shop offers a variety of handicrafts and other local products for gifts and souvenirs.

Elephant safari provides opportunity to get a closer view of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. One may also get a glimpse of the elusive Bengal tiger. The Elephant Breeding Center at Khorsor, Sauraha gives you information on captive elephant and the calves born there.

The museum at Kasara, the park headquarters, has informative displays- Near the HQ visitors can see Bikram Baba, a Hindu religious site of archival value. A short walk (1km) from the park HQ will take you to the Gharial Breeding Center, which is also home to the Marsh mugger and number of turtles.

Inside the park, there are 7 resorts run by park concessionaires that can provide lodging and access to wildlife activities. Various resorts and lodges situated outside the park also offer variety of services.

How to get there.

Public buses, tourist coaches, and airlines service link Chitwan. There are nine entrance gates to the park
1, Kasara via Jagatpur , 2. Ghatgain via Patihani , 3. Bhimle via Maghauli, 4. Khagendra mali via Bhandara , 5. Sunachuri via Sunachuri , 6. Sauraha via Tandi (Ratna Nagar)7. Laukhani via Pragatinaggr , 8. Amaltari via Danda , 9. Kujauli via Rajahar

* see : - SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK / Version polish and english /

- Safari to Chitwan Region Nepal 2009 - video.

- oryginal post by : – http://www.dnpwc.gov.np/national-parks-chitwan.asp

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Government of Nepal has set aside more than 13,000 sq. kms of protected areas that include as many bio-geographic regions as possible to assure conservation of the maximum numbers of wildlife species. These nature sanctuaries attract wildlife enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world and each park and reserve has its own attraction.

National Parks of Nepal (click to enlarge).

The Terai lowlands are defined by a belt of well-watered floodplains stretching from the Indian border northward to the first slopes of the Bhabhar and the Siwalik Range. This is the richest habitat in the land with tall grasslands interspersed with riverine and hardwood sal forest . Here one can see wildlife such as the swamp deer, musk deer, black buck, blue bull, the royal Bengal tiger, gharial and marsh mugger crocodile and the last of a breed of Asiatic wild buffalo. This area is also rich in birdlife with a variety of babbles and orioles, koels and drongos, peacocks and floricans, and a multitude of wintering wildfowl. There are five protected areas in Nepal – Koshi Tappu and Parsa in the east, Sukla Phanta and Dhorpatan for hunting in the west and Shivapuri in the. mid-mountain region. The Churia, also known as the. siwalik, is the southern most range of the Himalaya. No where do they rise above 1,220 meters, This range is famous for fossil deposits of Pleistocene mammals, among them 10 species of elephants, 6 rhinoceros, hippopotamus, saber-toothed cats, various antelopes and primates such as the orang-utan, long extinct in the subcontinent, Situated north of the Churia are broad, low valleys of the inner Terai know as the Doons. These valleys are not unlike the outer plains with tall elephant grass, swamps and ox-bow lakes where the last of the one-horned rhinoceros survive. Royal Chitwan National Park in the Inner Terai of central Nepal is the first and best protected area in the kingdom. Once one of the most famous big game hunting areas in Asia. Chitwan now offers protection to a large array of mammals such as the. one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, sloth bear and the gaur (wild bison) as well as more than 400 species of birds.

Higher in the north between 2000 and 3500 meters lies the Mahabharat Range with its oak crowned crests. The hills of this midland are covered by a moist temperate forest of deodar, oak, maple and birch in which are found deer, ghoral serow, leopard and monkey, The gorgeous multi colored lmpeyan pheasant (Nepal’s national bird) is also found here with other endangered birds like the koklas and Cheer Pheasants. Protected areas in this zone include Khapted National Park in the Far-West, Dhorpatan Hunting reserve, North-west of Pokhara and Shivapuri Wildlife Sanctuary near Kathmandu.

Higher still, nearer the snowline, are the alpine mountain flanks which are the haunt of snow leopard, which preys on blue sheep and the Himalayan tahr. Rarely seen are the wolf, black bears and lynx. The Sherpas, Manabga, and Dolpa-bas are some of those who farm and graze their livestock on the high mountain pastures. Langtang, Sagarmatha (Everest), Shey-Phoksundo and Rara National Parks are the protected high altitude areas of Nepal.

* Source : – http://www.mountmerutreks.blogspot.com/

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1. National Parks of Nepal.

2. Chitwan National Park.

4. SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK / Version polish and english /

5. Exploring National Parks - national parks across the U.S.

6. Yosemite National Park.