People have long recognized that certain natural areas need to be protected. In the United States, this understanding led to the establishment of the first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872. This was the beginning of the U.S. National Park System. Since then, 62 more national parks and hundreds more areas have been set aside by the federal government for various reasons. Readers of this interesting volume will enjoy learning about the history of the national parks and their impact on the nation. Fact boxes, sidebars, and historical images support the at-level text.