Added: 01/20/2006 |
Rocky Mountain - the Best Tourist Destination from British Columbia to New MexicoEach year recreational areas and scenic areas of the Rocky Mountains attract millions of tourists from all over the world. In the summer, major tourist attractions include the Royal Gorge, Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and a number of Canadian National Parks, like Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park, and the Yoho National Park.
Located in the north central region of Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park features a wide variety of wildlife, spectacular mountain views and different environments and climates, from mountain tundra to wooded forests. The Park is a perfect destination in June and July, when the visitors have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a great variety of wildlife. The great animal population of the Rocky Mountain National Park makes it one of the most popular wildlife watching destinations of the country. Here you'll find 280 bird species, 60 species of mammals, 11 species of fish, 6 amphibians and a surprisingly great number of butterflies.
The Rocky Mountains is home to the Yellowstone National Park, which is regarded as the world's oldest national park. Located in the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, the park covers more than 3,400 square miles, mostly in the northern part of Wyoming. It is famous for its plentiful hot springs, geysers, and is home to wolves, American bison, elk, grizzly bears and mountain lions. Due to the diversity of its features, Yellowstone is seen as one of the most popular destinations in the nation, offering an endless list of activities to its visitors from mountaineering and backpacking, to fishing, kayaking and wildlife watching.
Other prominent summer attractions of the Rocky Mountains is the Glacier National Park, established in 1910 in the US state of Montana. Together with the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, it forms the International Peace Park. In 1976, both parks were designated Biosphere Reserves and in 1995 - World Heritage sites. Glacier National Park contains a large number of waterfalls, mountains and lakes, as well as rapidly melting glaciers. The majority of the park's areas are accessible in summer only. Thunderstorms are common in this part of the mountains, so that safety measures should be taken.
In winter, skiing is the major attraction, available at the various ski resorts of Colorado, Utah, Montana and Alberta. One of the greatest Rocky Mountain ski opportunities are offered by the Vail ski resort, which boasts of more than 127 trails, ranging from beginner slopes to advanced terrain. Out of its seven bowls, the world famous Back Bowl represents over 35 % of the total terrain, providing over 3,000 acres of skiing paradise. You'll be offered 14 modern ski lifts, including the Eagle Bahn Gondola. The Rocky Mountains have very different seasons. Winter is characterized by high winds, deep snow and sudden blizzards, while in spring - the weather is unpredictable. Summer is the greatest time for many excursions and trips to the parks and preserves of the mountains.
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