Zion National Park

Zion is a national park in the United States, spread over an area of 593 ^km2. The main feature of the park is the Zion Canyon, which is 25 km long and up to 900 meters deep in places. The canyon was formed by the action of the Virginia River, which eroded the sandstone.

The canyon was discovered by Mormons in 1858 and soon settled. Realizing the value of these places, in 1909 the territory was declared the Mukuntuvip National Monument, but nine years later it received its current name. In 1919, the monument received the status of a national park, and in 1956, the Kolob Canyon was added to the park.

The Kolob and Zion canyons began to form over 150 million years ago. Under the influence of small seas that have left their deposits here. About 12 million years ago, the Colorado Plateau rose by about 3 kilometers. The highest point of the park is considered to be Mount Horse Ranch, with a height of 2,660 meters, the lowest point is 1,120 meters above sea level.

Before the Zion National Park was created, there was no tourist infrastructure here. But already in 1910, they began to rebuild the railway into a highway, and by 1917 the first road to Zion Canyon appeared here. The length of the road was 10 km and it ended at the Sinavava Temple (Sinavava is an Indian god in a coyote skin). Hiking trails in the Zion Narrows Gorge are already beginning near the temple. Since then, the flow of tourists has only increased, in 1920 3,692 tourists visited these places, and by 2000 the flow of tourists reached 2.5 million people, becoming one of the most popular national parks in the country, along with the Grand Canyon Park. To protect the environment, during the period from April to October, any traffic is prohibited along the road except for special buses. Buses take tourists to all important points of the park. In November and March, private transport is available in the park.

It is difficult to find a place in the United States comparable in grandeur and beauty to Zion National Park. The sky is extremely clear here, and the landscapes that open to the eye are amazing in their beauty. There are both deserts and forest areas on the territory of the park, due to this diversity, a unique animal and plant world has developed here. Almost 300 species of birds, 75 species of mammals and 32 species of reptiles can be found in Zion Park. Deer, mountain lions, condors and golden eagles are often found among the animals.

There are many hiking trails with different levels of difficulty for tourists. Every year, hundreds of tourists come here to walk along the dangerous Narrows Canyon trail near the Virginia River. The river has carved an incredibly beautiful canyon, and the tour here will seem unforgettable. Another trail leads to Angels Landing Mountain. Many tourists seek to climb this mountain and sometimes accidents happen due to the difficulty of climbing, but the views of Zion Canyon are worth it.

From March to October, visitors can enjoy cycling and horseback riding, as well as mountaineering.