Activity Department

NATIONAL PARKS National Park Trivia: Yosemite Photo 1: Yosemite Valley Photo 2: The Merced River runs through the Yosemite Valley Photo3: Yosemite Falls drops 2, 425 feet from the upper falls to the lower falls, making one North America's tallest waterfalls. Park Q & A: 1. Who helped create Yosemite? Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln declared Yosemite a forest reserve in 1864. It was then established as a National Park on October 1, 1890. 2. What is Yosemite known for? It’s granite cliffs, and sequoia trees and waterfalls. North America’s tallest waterfall, named Yosemite Falls, resides in the park with a cascade stretching 2,425 feet. The sequoia trees, similar to redwoods, are massively tall trees that grow up to 300 feet during their 2,000+ year life span. 3. What kind of animals are common in Yosemite? Mountain lions, black bears, and mule deer can all be found in Yosemite. There are also Yellow- bellied marmots and over 400 other species of animals. 4. Where is Yosemite located? California. Yosemite is East of San Francisco in central California. The closest town is Mariposa, California. 5. What kind of terrain can be found in Yosemite? Yosemite has several granite peaks along with woods, lakes, and meadows. One of the most photographed peaks in Yosemite is Half Dome. Half Dome is 8,842 ft. tall and was formed by glaciers many years ago. On a separate mountain is Mt. Lyell and at 13,114 feet tall, it is the highest point in the park. 6. How many people visit the park? An average of over 3.7 million people visit the park each year. The park has become one of the most visited National Parks in America. 7. What mountains are near? Yosemite lies within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the western slope. The size of the park is about the size of Rhode Island. 8. Who discovered Yosemite? Native American tribes were inhabitants of this area for at least 3,000 years. As gold-diggers went west in pursuit of gold, a doctor named Lafayette Bunnell is believed to have named it Yosemite. 9. How did people get there? When the Transcontinental Railroad came into the area in the late 1860’s, stagecoach roads were built to bring people up to Yosemite. Roads were built and now cars and buses are able to bring people to the park. These is now an energy efficient bus shuttle system that can transport the thousands of daily tourists throughout the park. 10. Who was instrumental in preserving this area? John Muir was an advocate of preserving this area for the future. He was witness to sheep and cattle overgrazing and also to the loggers who were harvesting the huge Sequoia trees. He brought President Teddy Roosevelt out for a camping trip in Yosemite in 1903 and soon afterwards, the park was turned over to the federal government for protection and preservation for all future visitors. Photo 4 El Capitan in Yosemite National Park Trivia: GRAND CANYON Photo 1 The North Rim of the Grand Canyon Photo 2 The South Rim View of Grand Canyon Park Q & A: 1. Who first discovered Grand Canyon? Native Americans first inhabited this area, using the canyon bottom by the river as their living space. In 1540, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, along with his Spanish soldiers and Hopi Indian guides came upon the canyon but retreated when they didn’t reach water. Then in 1776, two Spanish priests came as missionaries to the Hopi Indians but left after a short time. Then there were trappers and other explorers, including John Wesley Powell. 2. What is Grand Canyon known for? It is considered one of most spectacular gorges in the world as it is carved out over one mile deep by the Colorado River. 3. What kind of animals are common in Grand Canyon? Mountain lions, bighorn sheep and mule deer can all be found in Grand Canyon, along with many other animals. Elk are popular and unique to this area. Condors can often be scene here as well. Scorpions and rattlesnakes enjoy the warmth and hikers are cautioned to be alert to them. 4. Where is Grand Canyon located? In the northwest corner of Arizona, close to the borders of Utah and Nevada. 5. What tragic incident charged the world of air travel? In 1956, two passenger airplanes both flying from Los Angeles to Chicago were given permission to fly into the Grand Canyon airspace to get a better view of the canyon. Those two planes crashed, killing everyone on board. As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was created to increase safety in the air. 6. How many people visit the park? An average of over 5 million people visit the park each year! 7. How big is the Grand Canyon? It is 277 miles long and 4 to 18 miles wide, depending on where you are. It is just over a mile deep. 8. Who explored the River and Canyon? John Wesley Powell led the first river expedition in 1916. He was the first to name it the “Grand Canyon”. Previously it had been known as the “Big Canyon” or the “Great Canyon” 9. What River flows through the Grand Canyon? The Colorado River. It is believed that the river had been flowing over 17 million years of the river and has eroded the rock into what it is today. 10. When did it become a National Park? In 1919, becoming our nation’s 17th national park. Many people consider it be one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Theodore Roosevelt visited often. Photo 3 An elk at Grand Canyon National Park Trivia: Bryce Canyon Photo 1 Hoodoos are the pillars of rock left from erosion at Bryce Canyon Photo 2 the arches at Bryce Canyon Park Q & A: 1. Who first discovered Bryce Canyon? Several Indian tribes are thought to have lived in the area but most recently was the Paiute Indians. Mormon scouts were sent out to evaluate the livability of the area. Then Scottish immigrant Ebenezer Bryce and wife Mary was sent by the Mormon church in 1873 to settle land. Ebenezer’s carpentry skills came in useful as in addition to their home, he built a road to retrieve wood and a canal to irrigate crops and water his animals. Soon other settlers called the area “Bryce Canyon”. Between drought, overgrazing and flooding, Bryce moved his family to Arizona in 1880. 2. What is Bryce Canyon known for? It is actually not a canyon but rather is known for “hoodoos” which are red, orange and white rocks formed from years of frost, erosion and weathering. 3. What kind of animals are common in Bryce Canyon? Mule deer are the most popular, however, many animals and birds can be found in Bryce Canyon, including elk and pronghorn. The three endangered species found and protected in Bryce are the Utah prairie dog, the California condor and the Southeastern Willow Flycatcher. 4. Where is Bryce Canyon located? In southwestern Utah, about 50 miles north of Zion National Park. 5. What is another popular activity? Star gazing. The night sky has a magnitude night sky of 7.4, making it one of the darkest in North America. There are 7,500 stars visible with the naked eye. 2,000 visible stars are common in other areas. There are stars viewing activities sponsored by the Park. 6. How many people visit the park? An average of over 1.5 million people visit the park each year. It is open year round for activities and hiking. 7. How big is Bryce Canyon? It is 55 square miles. The Rim Road is 18 miles long. 8. Who helped build the roads? The Civilian Conservation Corps completed the Rim Road in 1934. This road runs through the park and is still used today. 9. When did it become a National Park? On June 8, 1923, Bryce Canyon became a national monument under President Warren Harding. In order to protect the borders and land of Bryce, it became a National Park on February 25, 1928 and renamed Bryce Canyon National Park National Park Trivia: Arches National Park Photo 1 Balanced Rock at Arches National Park Photo 2 Arches National Park Park Q & A: 1. Who first discovered Arches? Several Indian tribes did live in the area until about 700 years ago. Spanish missionaries and the Mormon Elk Mountain Mission were short lived due to the lack of water. Tourism peaked an interest again when the railroads came to the area. 2. What is Arches National Park known for? It has over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. 3. What kind of animals are common in Arches National Park? Because it is so hot here, most of the animals are nocturnal, coming out in the cool of the night, including mule deer, cottontail rabbits and bighorn sheep. Lizards are very common as they scurry about, avoiding tourists. 4. Where is Arches National Park located? Near Moab, Utah. 5. Do the arches ever fall? Yes. Since 1977, 25 arches have collapsed. 6. How many people visit the park? About 700,000 people per year. With the arid temperatures and little rainfall, walking off path is prohibited. But there are plenty of paths for the visitors. 7. How big is the Arches National Park? It is 119 square miles. 8. What films were made here? In 1965, The Greatest Story Ever Told and in 1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. 9. When did it become a National Park? On Aril 12, 1929, it became a National Monument.

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