Visualizing Environmental Science

Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina, Tennessee)

Grand Canyon (Arizona)

Yosemite (California)

Yellowstone (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

Olympic (Washington)

Zion (Utah)

Grand Teton (Wyoming)

Acadia (Maine)

Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio)

Total visitors to all parks in the national park system

National park

9.0

4.3

3.9

3.4

3.2

3.0

2.8

2.6

2.4

2.2

278.9

Number of

recreational

visitors in 2011

(in millions)

© Ivan Kuzmin/Alamy

Courte

sy of the National

Park

Service.

BWAC Images/Alamy

Jim Parkin/Alamy

d. Shuttle Bus at Zion National Park in Utah.

In operation since 2000, the Zion National Park shuttle system

eliminates traffic congestion. During peak months, personal

vehicles are banned from popular areas; visitors instead ride

the propane-powered shuttle.

a. Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

This view from Mohave Point shows sunset over the

south rim of the canyon.

b. The 10 Most Popular National Parks.

c. Heavy Traffic at Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains

National Park in Tennessee.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park receives the most visitors

of any U.S. national park. The popularity of certain national parks

threatens to overwhelm them.

Environmental InSight National parksÊ UÊ ˆ}ÕÀiʣΰ£ä ✓✓THE PLANNER

National Parks and Wilderness Areas 337