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Named a national park in 1951 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Serengeti National Park covers nearly 6,000 square miles of savannah in northern Tanzania. It is home to the great migration, the world’s largest animal migration, in which 2 million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras embark on a 600-mile trek across the

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates cultural and natural sites around the world that demonstrate exceptional value to humanity with the aim of protecting and preserving them. Today, these World Heritage Sites number 1,154. Starting this month, the World Tribune will highlight one UNESCO World Heritage Site in every issue. Venice

The new SGI Guam Ikeda Peace and Culture Center opened in August 2022. Located adjacent to the Guam International Trade Center, site of the SGI’s founding, this 15,000-square-foot center features a main room with a 275-seat capacity. A stormwater management system, hurricane-resistant design, large fans, all LED lighting and a rooftop covered with solar panels

Established in 1916, Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California is home to boiling mud pots and hissing fumaroles (openings in the earth’s surface that emit volcanic gases). Lassen Peak, the best-known feature of the park, is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, located on the northern tip of Wisconsin, includes 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland coast. It is home to the largest collection of historic lighthouses in the nation. Each island has its own character and features the natural beauty of sea caves, sandstone cliffs and pristine beaches. For many, the

Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, part of a World Heritage Site, covers 3.3 million acres of glaciers, snow-capped mountains and emerald green forests. It is home to more than 50 named glaciers and a wide variety of wildlife, including brown and black bears, mountain goats, moose, whales, seals and more than 200 species of

Just an hour drive from Las Vegas lies the Valley of Fire State Park in Overton, Nevada, a world-renowned geologic wonderland. When the sun sets each evening, over 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone glow in the warm light, making the entire valley look like it was set on fire. In 1935, the area

White Mountain National Forest was established in 1914 after concerned visitors began discussing how to preserve the area that was heavily logged and damaged. The protected area now covers 800,000 acres across New Hampshire and western Maine. Well known for its majestic alpine peaks and breathtaking scenery, the national forest is home to Mount Washington,

Known as “the power mountain” by Native Americans, Steptoe Butte was thought to bestow a gift of power to those who journeyed there. The 3,612-foot-tall butte, along with its surrounding area is now preserved as a state park. Its 150 acres is famous for its dramatic beauty and rolling hills that resemble a majestic painting.

Scotts Bluff National Monument has served as a major landmark for many, including travelers on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. In the mid-1800s, over 250,000 emigrants from the East traveled through this area. Its 3,000 acres are now protected by the National Park Service. —Prepared by the World Tribune staff

Catskill Forest Preserve, also known as Catskill Park, was established in 1885. The park encompasses over 600,000 acres. It is home to the famous 260-foot Kaaterskill Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in New York. Now a popular tourist site, it has been depicted in many early 19th-century books, paintings and essays. —Prepared by the

Covering 60,000 acres, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park remains one of the few large wilderness areas in the Midwest. The park boasts various natural attractions—a 35,000-acre forest, roaring waterfalls, secluded lakes, scenic rivers and streams, and over 90 miles of hiking trails. The native Ojibwe people named the mountains after the shape of their silhouette,

Located in northwestern Arizona, the Grand Canyon National Park is a massive gorge created by the meandering Colorado River. At 278 miles long and 4 to 18 miles wide, this awe-inspiring canyon is one of the largest in the world. The canyon transforms throughout the day as the sun colors the pallets of canyon walls.

El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Located in northeastern Puerto Rico, the forest covers over 28,000 acres and receives more than 200 inches of rain per year. It is one of the most biologically diverse forests, home to species including the coquí, a tree frog native to the

Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon State Park is located on the southwest side of the island of Kaua’i in Waimea, Hawaii. Stretching 14 miles wide and more than 3,600 feet deep, the canyon was formed through the erosive force of the Waimea river and the collapse of the volcano that

Bison, bighorn sheep, prairiedogs and black-footed ferrets live on the 244,000 acres that make up Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Well known for its rugged beauty, the park’s striking geologic formations contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Over millions of years, layers of rock were slowly stacked on top of each other,

Situated in southeastern Ohio is Hocking Hills State Park. The 2,356-acre park is home to beautiful trails, waterfalls, caves and gorges. It is one of the most visited parks in Ohio. —Prepared by the World Tribune staff

Established in 1885, Niagara Falls State Park claims the title of the oldest state park in the United States. It spans 221 acres of land and contains three waterfalls: the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and a portion of the Horseshoe Falls. Hydroelectric power has been harnessed from the falls since the mid-18th century and

Denali National Park encompasses 6 million acres of Alaskan wilderness. It is well known for its 20,310-foot-high namesake summit, also known as Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America and third highest summit on the planet. The vast park is home to a variety of animals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, moose

Covering nearly a million acres, Olympic National Park is known for its distinctly diverse ecosystems from temperate rainforests to glacier-capped mountains, not to mention its more than 70 miles of coastline. —Prepared by the World Tribune staff