World parks - recreational areas of cities, designed to filter the polluted atmosphere of megacities, are becoming more original every year. Showing yourself and surprising people is probably the principle that world-famous designers are guided by when designing gardens and national parks. Unusual bionic forms, reliefs of unearthly beauty - the amazing coloring distinguishes modern park landscape design.
Tropical Garden in Singapore - the most beautiful park in the world
In 2012, the British architectural bureau Wilkinson Eyre, in collaboration with landscape designers from Grant Associates, completed work on the 54-hectare Bay South National Garden of Singapore. The master plan for the park features a stylized orchid, which cost £500 million to complete. Two shell-shaped greenhouses, surrounded by 18 50-meter tree-like columns, were erected on reclaimed land in the center of Singapore, on the bay.
Thousands of plant species grow in an openwork frame of column trunks, connected by a spiral-shaped suspension bridge raised 20 m from the ground surface. Rainwater collected in improvised conical crowns serves to irrigate vertical plantings.
The best parks in the world are the winners of the competition “The most beautiful landscape design”
The botanical garden, laid out in a former sand quarry in, near Melbourne, was recognized as the best among national parks world in 2013. The project was developed by landscape design studio Taylor Cullity Lethlean and dendrologist Paul Thompson. 170 thousand plants from about 2000 species of Australian flora are presented in the park, which reflects the originality of the nature and landscape of Australia.
According to the World Architecture Festival 2014, Australia's national arboretum "100 Forests", designed by landscape bureau Taylor Cullity Lethlean and architect Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, was chosen as the best park in the world. The concept of the unusual garden is the regeneration of a forest plantation on the outskirts of Canberra, which was damaged by seasonal fires. The new park area of 30 hectares will include 50 thousand rare species of trees and flowers from all over the world, as well as representatives of flora that are on the verge of extinction.
Conceptual design projects for world parks
British designer Thomas Heatherwick has developed a project for an island park, which is planned to be founded in 1916 in New York on the Hudson River in the area of a dilapidated pier. “Treasure Island” is the conceptual title landscape park, is an undulating landscape platform based on a group of mushroom-shaped columns 56 meters high. In addition to multi-level observation platforms, an amphitheater designed for 700 spectators will be located on the territory of the park. Construction of the park is estimated to cost $130 million, $113 million of which has already been received as a charitable contribution from media mogul Barry Diller, making it the largest donation to the New York City Improvement Fund since its inception.
Inspired by the landscape of the Arabian Desert, Heatherwick designed the 125,000 m2 Al Fayyah Park for the city of Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The fragmented canopy, reminiscent of a cracked desert area, will be supported by a colonnade and will conceal a vast recreational area under its canopy. Protected in this way from the scorching sun, exotic plants will be able to grow unhindered on the territory of the national park - the unusual cracked roof will form a shadow zone and retain evaporating moisture.
Another ambitious project of Thomas Heatherwick - the concept of a park pedestrian bridge 367 meters long, designed to connect the two banks of the Thames in London: Covent Garden and South Bank Street. The structure of the bridge-park includes two interconnected platforms that support supports that widen towards the top, reminiscent of the opened buds of a rare flower. The cost of building the bridge is estimated at 175 million pounds sterling and causes a mixed reaction from the public and the City of London - it is the most expensive park bridge in the world.
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The real paradises of our planet are national parks, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, protected and preserved by man - this is an integral part of the wealth of the natural world. Striking with their relief beauty, they have a large range of plants and animals living in their characteristic territory. Huge areas with picturesque landscapes are open to tourists and travelers who want to leave in their memory positive emotions and impressions from visiting these amazing places. The most beautiful national parks in the world presented later in the article.
1. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park(Yosemite) is a nature reserve with an area of 3081 km², located in the western Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, USA. A wide and abundant composition of natural attractions, as well as a large number of hiking trails and routes allow it to be the second most visited park in the country.
Mighty granite cliffs, vast valleys and meadows are combined with fast rivers and blue lakes. Gorgeous waterfalls, dense groves and forests are an ideal find for lovers of natural beauty. The park is home to more than 250 species of vertebrate animals, the most famous of which are the baribal bear, gray fox, black-tailed deer, and red lynx. The vegetation is dominated by coniferous trees: fir, sequoia, and various pine families.
Yosemite Park attracts tourists with its most soulful and fabulous views on winter days, when frozen rivers and waterfalls along with snowy mountain ranges and forests give an unforgettable feeling of delight and tranquility.
In the US state of Arizona, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Since 1979, it has been a center of beauty, peace and scenic grandeur. The asymmetrical forms of the park's exposed ancient rocks provide one of the most striking examples of soil erosion. The area of the Grand Canyon is 4927 km².
The nature of the park is quite diverse, including forests and stone peaks of cliffs, overgrown with small bushes. Lodgepole pine, Utah juniper, and mountain oak are the numerically dominant trees present. The warm, sunny areas of the canyon are home to desert plants such as bananas, yuccas and cacti. Adapted to favorable living conditions, many species of animals have a wide composition characteristic of a given area. The most common mammals found are black-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, beavers, ground squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and bats.
Divided by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is unparalleled for its panoramic views, impressive cliff sizes and unique landscapes. The rocks consist of layers of rocks of different ages, are perfectly preserved and clearly stand out in the walls of the canyon.
3. Banff Park
Canada's first and oldest national park is the Nature Reserve. Banff, having an area of 6641 km² and founded in 1885 in the province of Alberta.
The park is located on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, which with their mighty snowy peaks inspire travelers and tourists from all over the world. Stone cliffs, clean mountain air, waterfalls, dense coniferous forests with crystal-clear lakes Louise, Peita, Bow and Moraine truly beckon with their beauty and grandeur. In some places there are several hot springs with mineral water, used by visitors for preventive and therapeutic procedures.
For wild animals such as bears, wolverines, goats and chipmunks, forest and mountainous areas have become a permanent habitat. The flora is represented mainly by evergreen trees and shrubs.
The city of Banff itself annually welcomes a huge number of lovers of outdoor activities and extreme sports. The Rocky Mountains are literally dotted with trails, slopes and roads for snowboarders, skiers, ATVs, sleds and snowmobiles.
4. Los Glaciares Park
Beautiful in Argentina Los Glaciares National Park known for its eternal glacial blocks and massifs, occupying almost a third of the entire territory. The park has existed since 1937, founded in the province of Santa Cruz and located along the border with Chile and the southern part of the mountain range on the Argentine side.
The picturesque and harsh region of ice covers an area of 4459 km² with complex relief cliffs up to 3.5 km. The name of the park comes from the huge ice cap, which is represented by 47 glaciers sliding down from the Andes mountains to the coast. Atlantic Ocean. Glacial margins usually end in small and large lakes.
The vegetation of Los Glaciares is represented by a variety of herbs, shrubs and trees that have the ability to tolerate fairly low temperatures. The largest population among animals is represented by herbivorous species: llama, Andean deer, guanaco, chinchillas. The main predator here is the mountain puma.
Tourists can visit the park's main features year-round, such as Mount Fitz Roy, Lago Argentino and Viedma lakes, and the great Patagonian Ice Sheet.
5. Goreme Park
One of the ten most beautiful natural reserves in the world is a historical and unique place in the Turkish province of Cappadocia, which covers an area of 300 km² and is famous for its original landscapes with pointed rock formations resembling stone cones. The valleys of Goreme, formed as a result of volcanic eruptions and the influence of natural elements, have amazing and bizarre relief forms. The most famous valleys of Love, Red, Pink and Blue, deserve special attention as well as the local shrines of the park. The randomly scattered small rocks and peaks are made of tuff, a volcanic rock material that can be easily processed.
The collection of churches and monasteries constitutes a Museum under open air with centuries-old history and culture. All religious institutions are accessible to visitors and are comfortable havens for all Christians.
Over the course of many years, residents of other countries who fled state oppression built many caves with winding passages in the high tuff hills, which later turned into a real city. Small villages and cave structures with their ancient past attract tourists from all over the world.
6. Namib-Naukluft Park
National Park Namib-Naukluft- the fourth largest reserve in the world, located in the heart of the African Namib Desert. The park's territory is about 50,000 km², located between a central high plateau and a vast plain.
The landscape design includes granite Naukluft cliffs with sparse vegetation, gypsum and quartz plains, as well as sand dunes and shallow canyons.
Due to the hot climate and lack of rain, which can last for several decades, the plant world has a small population. However, some endemic species, such as the Welwitschia tree, are quite adapted to arid areas. Among the animals, the most popular are large mammals: elephants, lions, rhinoceroses and ungulates. Reptiles, birds and insects also predominate in large numbers.
The main attractions of the park are: the Sossusvlei clay plateau, Sesrim Canyon, Welwitschia Plains and the Dead Valley with the skeletons of dried trees. The desert region of Namib-Naukluft has little attraction for tourists, as difficult and long routes are combined with lifeless places and unfavorable conditions.
7. Swiss National Park
The most beautiful natural reserves include Swiss national park. It was founded on August 1, 1914 in the canton of Graubünden, and is a protected site with strict visiting rules for tourists. It covers an area of 172.4 km², which is located at an altitude of 1400 to 3175 meters above sea level. Switzerland's only nature reserve and the first park in Central Europe is located in the foothills of the Alps and the Engadin Valley.
Wide alpine meadows, snowy peaks, clear lakes and pine forests lure nature lovers from all countries with their splendor. There are 21 hiking trails in the reserve, each approximately 80 km long. Tourist routes provide the opportunity to see many species of various animals and a rich flora. Among mammals there are brown bears, mountain goats, lynx, martens, marmots. The fauna is represented by deciduous and evergreen forests, wild flowers and grasses, which have favorable conditions for life in the alpine terrain.
A visit to the park at any time of the year is wonderful in its own way, and walks in the fresh mountain air add an unforgettable dose of positivity for any visitor.
8. Torres del Paine Park
Known for its spectacular landscapes, forests, jagged rock peaks and scattering of waterways, the beautiful Torres del Paine National Park deserves the attention of every traveler who comes to southern Patagonia. Located in the Torres del Paine and Cuernos del Paine mountain ranges, the park occupies 2,420 km² of territory in southern Chile and is a biosphere reserve.
The granite snow-capped cliffs, as part of the sprawling Andes range, are dotted with glaciers, waterfalls, fast-flowing rivers and lakes with iridescent hues of color from the bright sunlight. The most unique objects of the park are the Glacier Gray glacier, mountain Horns, French Valley and Tower Mountains.
Amazing landscapes with stony deserts, grassy tundras and plains, as well as a vast composition of flora and fauna give a combination of ideal beauty and harmony.
Among the wild animals in the reserve, the most common are pumas, skunks, foxes, guanacos and the Chilean deer, which is depicted on the country's coat of arms. The park is home to many birds, including birds of prey: hawks, condors, owls.
The vegetation here, as a decoration for any area, is represented by numerous mosses, shrubs, evergreen trees and colorful flowers and herbs.
Excellent conditions have been created for tourists to have a wonderful time in the reserve. Convenient routes and small ones wooden houses for relaxation they provide comfort and coziness during long movements around the park.
9. Jasper Park
Picturesque Jasper national park, founded in 1907, is located in the Canadian province of Alberta. Occupying total area more than 10,878 km², the park combines the mountain landscapes of the Main and Front Ranges, as well as the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
The main natural resources of the park are snow-capped mountains, river valleys, glaciers, roaring waterfalls, clear lakes and meadows. The glacier and waterfall, collectively known as Athabasca, together complete a colorful picture among the park's main attractions.
Favorable climatic conditions in the Jasper Nature Reserve have created a permanent habitat for a large composition of animals and flora. The extensive forests contain varieties of evergreen trees that are quite common in these areas, such as larch, yellow and Weymouth pines, Engelmann and Douglas fir, and juniper.
Among the animals, the largest populations are grizzly bears, wolves, moose, beavers, wolverines, deer, and Canadian lynxes.
Canada's largest natural site delights its visitors with the opportunity to organize various activities - fishing, sports game events, extreme sports, hiking and horseback riding, biking and canoeing, rafting, as well as many other recreation options depending on the choice of visiting guests.
10. Zhangjiajie Park
Zhangjiajie- one of the most beautiful national parks in China. It is located in the scenic area of Wulingyuan and is the first national forest reserve in China, founded in 1982. The park has become world famous for its landscapes with lush subtropical forests, clear mountain streams, caves and more than 3,000 quartzite rocks resembling tall stone pillars up to 200 m high.
Zhangjiajie's area is about 479.15 km². Thanks to the humid climate and vegetation, the quartzite rocks scattered throughout the park are the result of centuries of erosion.
Zaryadye Park is located in the historical center near Red Square and the Kremlin. The authors of the project were the Diller Scofidio+Renfro bureau (New York), specialists from the landscape workshop Hargreaves Associates (New York) and urbanists from Citymakers (Moscow). Over many centuries, Zaryadye has changed its appearance more than once: at one time, embassies and a royal residence were founded on this site, military garrisons were located, there was a Jewish quarter and slums. At the beginning of the 20th century, the project of the largest Moscow high-rise building was frozen here, and the Rossiya Hotel was built on the laid foundation. After its destruction, a vacant lot existed in this place for a long time, surrounded by a dull construction fence. And in September 2017, a new public space opened its doors to all visitors, changing the face of modern Moscow.
The main role in the park is given to nature, peace and quiet. All cultural and entertainment facilities (Ice Cave with a constant sub-zero temperature, a concert hall and a large amphitheater, an underground museum, a media center, etc.) are integrated into the existing landscape. On artificially created hills and lowlands there are real forests and meadows that recreate different natural zones from the tundra to the steppe. The overall modern look of Zaryadye Park is completed by the unique “Floating Bridge”, which offers the most beautiful panoramic views of the Kremlin and the Moscow River in the city.
Park near the Krasnodar stadium in Krasnodar
The park near the Krasnodar stadium in the capital of Kuban was built with the own money of businessman Sergei Galitsky. The project was carried out by the German bureau gmp International. The park is adjacent to the FC Krasnodar stadium, so the area was planned taking into account the influx of a large number of people. The space of 22 hectares has 30 thematic zones, including: a summer amphitheater, a terraced garden, a rope park, modern playgrounds, a climbing wall, a skate park and much more.
More than 2,300 mature trees were planted in the park to create a Mediterranean atmosphere. It is interesting that the territory is intended for use at any time of the year: for example, in the winter, on the site of a summer fountain there will be an ice skating rink. The garden looks especially impressive from the height of a quadcopter, which allows you to see beautiful geometric patterns and vast spaces. The improvement will be completely completed by the spring of 2018, perhaps then the park will acquire an official name.
Garden of Alexander Grivko in Etretat
In May 2017, a park designed by Russian landscape architect Alexander Grivko opened in the French city of Etretat on the English Channel coast. Every visitor is presented with a real wonderland, a fantastic world populated by all kinds of sculptures and installations. Giant rubber heads rest on green pillows, a golden key sticks out from a tree trunk, winding a music box, and on the terrace overlooking the sea, a wicker figure of Claude Monet paints his immortal landscapes.
On an area of two hectares, the varieties of orchids that were once planted here by the first owner of the historical villa located in the park, the French actress Madame Thibault, were restored. The space is replete with sculptural plant forms: whirlpool hedges are adjacent to trimmed rock trees, gradually merging with the coastline.
Princess Diana Memorial Garden in London
This spring, one of the most mesmerizing gardens in the world, the White Garden, created in honor of Princess Diana, bloomed on the grounds of Kensington Palace in west London. 2017 was declared the year of memory of Diana Spencer, who died exactly 20 years ago in a car accident. At her former residence, where she lived with her children, a garden worthy of the memory of the Princess of Wales was laid out for just one season.
Gardeners planted a total of 12,000 bulbs of snow-white tulips of the “Diana” variety, bred especially in her honor. The continuous floral cover also included thousands of lilies, hyacinths, daffodils, forget-me-nots and primroses, as well as over a hundred species of roses. Continuous flowering is maintained throughout the season by planting more and more white flowers with small splashes of pastel colors.
Skygarden (Seoullo) in Seoul
In 2015, the Dutch architectural bureau MVRDV won a competition to design a park in the very center of Seoul. A new public space was required to be created on a former overpass built in 1970. The architects were faced with the task of making the area near Seoul Central Station, where the future park was planned, more environmentally friendly, friendly and attractive. The former highway, with a total length of 938 meters, has been transformed into a city park planted with Korean species of plants and trees.
The old overpass is now a linear garden with 24 thousand species of plants, in which the landscape changes depending on the seasons. The city is actively connecting to the new public space, which Seoul residents cross every day - new stairs and bridges are being brought to the park from neighboring offices, hotels and restaurants.
Navy Yards Central Green in Philadelphia
Historically, South Philadelphia was characterized by wetlands and grasslands where the city's wharves were formerly located. The area is now becoming one of Philadelphia's most progressive and corporate areas. On an area of two hectares, the American bureau James Corner Field Operations has developed a park project that combines the modern urban potential of the area with its native habitat. This is how a completely new type of environment emerged - ecological and natural, as well as socially active.
A circle was chosen as the main organizational form; each of the individual zones has an independent function. Trees and shrubs are planted inside some of the rings, the largest is a jogging track, while others are equipped with an amphitheater, places for recreation and active sports.
Aga Khan Park in Toronto
Aga Khan Park is located on the outskirts of downtown Toronto surrounded by busy city streets and highways. The nearly seven-hectare site also houses the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre. The authors of the project, the American studio VDLA, had to not only unite these two buildings, but also organize a calm and contemplative space.
The garden was created according to the canons of traditional Islamic parks. Large bodies of water serve as visual extensions of the museum and center buildings. A large number of trees and shrubs were planted around the artificial ponds, the central one being the serviceberry. The choice fell on this plant due to its changeable appearance, depending on the time of year. Irga is distinguished by snow-white blooms in spring, a large number of burgundy fruits in summer, a golden-red crown in autumn and ascetic bare branches in winter.
Incredible facts
City dwellers can sometimes find it difficult to escape the hustle and bustle, breathe fresh air and enjoy a walk in nature, but many are lucky and can find a wonderful green corner in their city.
City parks include gardens, walking trails, a zoo, an observatory and more. Here are 10 of the most beautiful city parks from around the world.
Butchart Gardens, British Columbia, Canada
These beautiful gardens are considered among the best in the world. Originating in 1907 as " Sunken Garden"On the site of an exhausted quarry, the park found a second life in 1921 thanks to the Butchart family and has flourished ever since, being a real pearl of Victoria in British Columbia.
After building the first garden, which still exists today, the Butcharts soon added Italian garden And Rose garden, as well as many other blooming attractions, including Carousel of Roses And Pavilion for children. The site was designated a National Historic Site in 2004. Throughout the year, there is always something special to see at Butchart Gardens, from the fragrant flowering shrubs in winter to the fresh delights of spring and the abundance of flowers in summer.
Central Park, New York, USA
New York's Central Park, surrounded by dense urban areas, is one of the most beautiful parks. It opened back in 1857, when a landscape design competition took place here. Among the innovations in the park's design were various road routes for horseback riders, pedestrians and bicycle taxis, as well as underground roads for traffic, which allowed the park to maintain an incomparable urban oasis.
Throughout history, America's most visited park has gone through various periods of decline and recovery. Today, the park is in good condition and crime is low.
Here you can do various activities, such as bird watching in the central section of the park The Ramble, go boating and kayaking, visit the zoo and even go rock climbing on ice-covered layers. Don't forget to stop at Egyptian obelisk and famous Strawberry fields, dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.
Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain
Park Guell was created by a world famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi and was built at the beginning of the 20th century. This striking urban space has been transformed from a housing development into an urban garden.
One of the central elements of Park Güell is the main terrace, where there is a bench in the shape of a sea serpent. Gaudí probably created the curves of this bench using a naked worker sitting in wet clay as a model. Covered in mosaics, it is an amazing attraction, as are the incredible bird nests that Gaudí also created.
The design of the park is inspired by Catalan nationalism, mysticism and archaic poetry. Park Guell is an integral part UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the works of Antoni Gaudi delight the eyes of not only Barcelona residents, but also guests from all over the world.
Keukenkof Park, Lisse, Netherlands
Kekenkof Park is a must-see for any flower lover. It seems that in this place the flowers are buried in lush rivers of colors. Also known as " Garden of Europe", it is the largest flower garden in the world, with approximately 7 million bulbs planted every year. It opened in 1949 on medieval hunting grounds in the small Dutch town of Lisse, where flower growers from all over Europe could exhibit their hybrid plants.
Prater Park, Vienna, Austria
Austria's Prater boasts one of the most impressive alleys in the world, closed to traffic and bordered by green horse chestnut trees. Other famous attractions in the park include the narrow gauge railway Railway Liliputbahn and the microstate known as Republic of Kugel-Mugel, proclaimed by the artist who created the ball house of this sovereign state.
The Prater opened in Vienna in April 1766, when the Emperor Joseph II declared it open to the public and allowed the construction of a cafe here, although before that the territory was used for hunting.
Griffith Park, Los Angeles, USA
Griffith Park stretches over 1,740 hectares of land and is characterized by untamed beauty. Here it is Griffith Observatory, located on the slopes of Mount Hollywood and which can often be seen in Hollywood films. Unfortunately, there have been wildfires in the park, and in 2007, 330 hectares of land burned there, destroying the bird sanctuary and other attractions.
The park owes its existence to Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, who donated the land to the city of Los Angeles in 1896. At first, the future of the land as a park was somewhat uncertain, but in 1912, Griffith created a trust to realize the dream of building an observatory, planetarium and amphitheater in the park. Subsequent donations and acquisitions allowed the park to expand to its current size. Offering breathtaking views of Los Angeles, Griffith Park is a luminary for Californians.
Roundhay Park, Leeds, UK
Roundhay Park is an unexpected treasure in the city of Leeds, England. When you visit this park, you will feel like you have entered a completely different world away from the busy city center. It is one of the largest urban parks in Europe, located on 283 hectares of land.
Roundhay Park contains three main gardens: Canal Gardens, consisting of old trees, a rectangular lake surrounded by colorful flowers and a beautiful rose garden, Monet's garden which was built in the style of a garden path Giverny, which the artist Monet depicted in one of his famous paintings, and Alhambra garden with a rectangular pond and fountains.
There are also man-made ruins in the park, built in 1812, which resemble the gates of a castle, which originally had a wooden roof and an upper room used by the owners at the time. The land, which belonged to the Nicholson family, was purchased by a group including the mayor of Leeds, and in 1871 it became a city park.
Silesian Zoological Garden, Katowice and Chorzow, Poland
The Silesian Zoological Garden in Poland is famous not only for its zoo, which houses 2,500 animals, but also for its unique Valley of the Dinosaurs, which presents a full-scale reconstruction of 16 dinosaurs whose remains were found by a Polish expedition in the Gobi Desert. Walking through this amazing attraction is like walking through the valley a million years ago, when these huge creatures inhabited the Earth.
The Silesian Zoological Garden is part of the larger Silesian Central Park, which was founded in 1954 on 47.6 hectares of land.
GardenMastersNetworks, Suzhou, China
Garden of the Network Master is a calm and peaceful garden in the bustling city of Suzhou and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site–Classical Gardens of Suzhou. The construction of the garden itself began in 1140.
Beautiful gardens surround the pond" Pink clouds", the name of which can bring calm to even the most restless minds. In the magnificent western section of the garden, covering 5400 sq.m. of land, various types of plants and stones represent different times years here.
The areas north of the Pink Cloud Pond were intended for intellectual contemplation, while those located to the south were intended for meetings. The pond itself appears larger than it actually is due to the close-to-the-water design style used, with smaller structures positioned directly on the water and larger ones set back further.
Fort Canning, Singapore
Singapore is quite a massive bustling city-state, and the park brings some freshness and beauty to it with its backdrop of stone and steel.
On a 60-meter hill in the central part of Singapore there is a lush green park with rich history. It was once used for government purposes and played a military role, but now it is simply beautiful park with many elements, from historical to botanical.
Among the attractions Fort Canning There is Spice Garden(Spice Garden), which exactly replicates the botanical garden founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, British figure who founded Singapore and also Gothic gate, domes for relaxation and much more. The site, now often home to outdoor concerts, was once the burial site of 600 Christians, and you can even see some of the headstones.
The American television channel CNN has compiled a rating of the 30 most beautiful national parks in the world. The evaluation criteria were the beauty of nature and picturesque places, safety and hospitality of local residents. The TV channel noted that US parks are not included in the rating.
30 PHOTOS
1. First place in the ranking was given to Iguazu Falls National Park in Argentina. It is believed that the waterfalls on the Iguazu River, surrounded by tropical nature, are one of the most beautiful and spectacular places on Earth. (Photo: REUTERS/Jorge Adorno). 
2. Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina took second place in the ranking. 30 percent of the park's territory is covered with ice, which is why it is also called the Patagonian Glacier Park. (Photo: 123 RF). 
3. Third place: another National Park of Argentina - Nahuel Huapi, which is located in the Andes at an altitude of 767 meters above sea level. (Photo: 123 RF). 
4. Fourth place: Gandoca-Manzanilla National Reserve in Costa Rica. 
5. Fifth place in the ranking: Tikal National Park in Guatemala. It includes one of the largest and most famous archaeological sites in the world - the most important center of the Mayan civilization, Tikal. (Photo: 123 RF). 
6. Sixth place in the ranking: Rapa Nui National Park, which is located on Easter Island (Chile) and is famous for its stone sculptures - moai. It is believed to be the most geographically remote inhabited island in the world from other islands and lands. (Photo: 123 RF). 
7. Seventh place: Torres del Paine National Park located in the Chilean part of Patagonia. According to scientists, the park is 11 million years old. (Photo: 123 RF). 
8. Eighth place: Canaima National Park, located in southeast Venezuela. This is where the most high waterfall in the world - Angel. (Photo: Flickr/Heather Thorkelson) 
9. Ninth place: Galapagos Islands National Park in Ecuador. The famous Galapagos tortoises, which give the islands their name, are the longest-living animal record holders - they live for more than two hundred years. (Photo: 123 RF). 
10. Tenth place: Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. The park has extensive heathland where birds nest. (Photo: Flickr). 
11. Eleventh place: Goreme National Park in Turkey, which is also an open-air museum - there are 350 Byzantine churches carved from the rocks. (Photo: 123 RF). 
12. Twelfth place: Tatrzansky or Tatra National Park is the only high-mountain park in Poland, created to protect unique mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. (Photo: Marek Podmokly/ Agencja Gazeta). 
13. Thirteenth place: Croatian Plitvice Lakes National Park, which includes 16 beautiful karst lakes connected by waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
14. Fourteenth place: Victoria Falls National Park - located on the Zambezi River in Zambia. (Photo: 123 RF). 
15. Fifteenth place: Kruger National Park is the oldest park in South Africa, which is part of the Kruger to the Canyons Biosphere Reserve. (Photo: 123 RF). 
16. Sixteenth place: Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. Covering almost 50,000 square kilometers of mostly desert, it is one of the largest protected areas in the world. (Photo: 123 RF). 
17. Seventeenth place: Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Even in the dry season, there is a lot of moisture here, which is very important for the ecosystem and animals. (Photo: Flickr/ninara). 
18. Eighteenth place: Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, on its territory there are many water cascades that waterfowl love. (Photo: 123 RF). 
19. Nineteenth place: Halgurd Sakran National Park in Iraq, which includes Mount Halgurd with a height of 3607 meters. (Facebook/press materials). 
20. Twentieth place: the deserted Ein Avdat National Park in Israel, which protects the beautiful areas of the canyon, inhabited in the times of the first Christians by monks and Nabataeans. (Photo: 123 RF). 
21. Twenty-first place: Zhangjiajie National Park in China. This is where the famous movie Avatar was filmed. (Photo: 123 RF). 
22. Twenty-second place: Naejangsan National Park in South Korea— it is especially beautiful in autumn. The park is hidden in the Naejangsan Mountains south of Seoul. (Photo: 123 RF). 
23. Twenty-third place: Pagsanhan Gorge National Park in the Philippines. It includes the largest waterfalls in the country. According to legend, before the waterfalls appeared, two twins lived in this place. One day, after a severe drought, one of them died, then the second twin climbed high rocks and began to curse the gods, when suddenly a spring began to flow from under his feet, which laid the foundation for the waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
24. Twenty-fourth place: Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka, whose main pride is its large population of elephants. (Photo: 123 RF). 
25. Twenty-fifth place: Sundarbans National Park - a tiger and biosphere reserve in India. (Photo: 123 RF). 
26. Twenty-sixth place: Bannerghatta National Park in India. Part of the park is a nature reserve, where more than a hundred species of birds, many mammals (including elephants, bears, leopards) and insects are strictly protected. There is also an animal rescue center here. (Photo: Flickr/Nisha D). 
27. Twenty-seventh place: Bandhavgarh National Park, home to the largest population of tigers in all of India. (Photo: 123 RF). 
28. Twenty-eighth place: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia. The famous red-brown mountain Uluru (Ayers Rock) changes its color depending on the angle of light. (Photo: 123 RF). 
29. Twenty-ninth place: National Park Blue Mountains in Australia. The name “Blue Mountains” comes from the blue eucalyptus trees growing on the slopes of the mountains. (Photo: 123 RF). 
30. Thirtieth place: Paparoa National Park in New Zealand, the main attraction of which is the pancake limestone cliffs, as well as beautiful caves. (Photo: 123 RF).
