Nature's wonderlands: National parks of the world

by National Geographic Society

For Nature's Natinal Parks of the World, teams of writers and photographers traveled to six continents to explore some of the world's finest national parks. Here they present the vivid diversity of roles played by today's parklands. At a livng laboratory in the remote Manu Biosphere reserve, scientists work to discover biological secrets of the Peruvian rain forest. In the Soviet Union scientists at state nature reserves supervise the breeding of once-rare bison for release int he wild, and study plant species several million years old. As autumn becomes winter int he Canadian mountain parks of Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay, els and bighorn sheep prepare to face the season head-on, while park visitors go skiing, sledding, and ice climbing. Survival of some park inhabitants is threatened. At ranthambhore in India the founding director risks his life to defend tigers against poachers. In Botswana, Africa, the wildlife that migrates outside of Chobe National Park is forced to complete with cattle for precious water and food. Still, parks rejuvenate the human spirit. Hikers follow Wordsworth's footsteps across England's Lake District and slosh through the rainy mountains of Fiordland in New Zealand. In the world's largest undersea sanctuary, divers feed giant codfish in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Scenic beauth, adventure, and natural history are portrayed her is 304 pages with 233 color photographs. Essays, picture portfolios, maps, fact boxes, and a detailed index enhance Nature's Wonderlands.

304 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1989

About the author

The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.