California’s national parks
Of the nine national parks in California, a number of them are famous even outside the USA. The first is Yosemite National Park, located in the eastern part of California, in the Sierra Nevada. In 1984, the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This national park is mainly known for the Yosemite Valley. This valley, carved out by a now defunct glacier and surrounded by high granite mountains such as Half Dome and El Capitan, is rich in natural beauty. Half Dome and El Capitan are among the main attractions of the park, but there are also several waterfalls, such as Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America.Another famous national park is Joshua Tree National Park, located in the southeast of California. This park owes its name to the Yucca brevifolia, or "Joshua tree". This park is especially popular with hiking enthusiasts. Another national park that you may have heard of is Death Valley National Park. It is the hottest place in the Western Hemisphere and the driest place in North America. The climatic conditions in the park make it difficult for many animals and plants to survive. The animals and plants that live in Death Valley have adapted to the harsh climate of the area. Highlights of the park include Dante's View and Badwater, the lowest point in North America (85.5 metres below sea level).
Giant trees
To the south of the Sierra Nevada lies Sequoia National Park. It will come as no surprise that the main highlight of this park are the giant sequoias from which it takes its name. This national park is home to the Giant Forest, where five of the ten largest trees in the world can be found. The park is also home to the world's largest tree: the General Sherman. North of Sequoia National Park lies Kings Canyon National Park, which is also home to one of the largest giant sequoias in the world. In addition to its natural beauty, this park also offers many opportunities for hikers, hikers and those who enjoy kayaking. Another national park that owes its name to a tree is Redwood National Park. The main highlights of this park are the impressive coast redwood trees. They are called "Coast Redwood" because of the reddish colour of the wood of these trees. In 1980, this park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
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