National parks are America's most scenic and historic places for public use. Today, national parks are commonly used as public resources for a variety of usage such as; recreation, education, scholarship, the preservation of endangered landscapes, natural communities, and species. National parks are also known as an area of land or water that is protected for the use of the public and the conservation of the environment and wildlife. National parks play an important role in helping to protect the environment. They are generally areas of wilderness that are not interfered with by human activity, which means that they do not contribute to the environmental damage caused by humans. It is evident that there are several national parks across the world, which causes more people to become more aware of the importance of conserving these natural beauties.
One national park that has become increasingly popular during the pandemic is Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park is located in southern California, which also lies between two deserts, the Mojave and the Sonoran. In 1936, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designated a national monument known as Joshua Tree, which was officially recorded as a national park in 1994. Joshua tree is commonly known for a plant called Yucca brevifolia, which only grows in a small section of the Mojave Desert. In the past, there were Mormon pioneers who encountered this specific plant in the mid-1800s. They decided to name it after the Biblical story of Joshua, who raised his hands to the sky in prayer. In addition, in 1936 before Roosevelt established the national monument, there were a few suggestions to name Joshua Tree after a man named Hoyt. Hoyt was known as a local who sought to influence public officials to create a program to protect the desert park for more than twenty years. However, one of the main reasons why they were not able to name it after Hoyt is because there was a strict policy that does not allow parks or monuments to be named after living people. Thus, Joshua Tree National Monument became the official name to represent the park’s most unique inhabitant.
Joshua Tree has so many unique geographical features which makes the park more interesting to visit. It is filled with a variety of desert flowers, a beautiful rock wonderland, and rare oases, which ultimately makes every visit a site for sore eyes. Since Joshua tree lies between the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, it allows the area to become fostering homes for high and lower desert plants as well as wild desert animals. In fact, there are several animals and plants that exist within the park since the wilderness area provides protection from development. Furthermore, there are several different types of plant life that can be found within Joshua Tree. For example, there are fountain grasses as well as a bunch of grass with seeds that are blown into the park from surrounding areas. This allows the desert to make an effort to take soil and nutrients needed by native grasses in order to use it as forage for native animals. There are also cheatgrass and red brome, which are plants that have the ability to carry fire throughout the park as well as being a great source to help burn hotter fire compared to other native plants. In addition, since there are so many plants founded in Joshua Tree, it has given the public the opportunity to maintain and care for the environment. For instance, there are local park staff and community volunteers who actively visit the park in order to remove any nonnative plants. Some of these nonnative plants may consist of: more than 6,700 tamarisk plants, 15,000 Asian mustard plants, and 1,000 tumbleweeds have been removed.
Another iconic characteristic about the park is the rare sight of the desert’s oasis delight. Not many people are familiar with the scenic embrace of a desert. Thus, this oasis view is known as the park’s default scene since the main view is the sight of the stance of palm trees surrounded by a barren landscape of sandy hills. Oases are the result of ground water coming close to the surface and fertilizing an area in an arid landscape. These are confirmed to be seen as small pools or support whole cultivated cities. The oases found in Joshua Tree are usually places where fan palms have naturally sprouted as a result of water fertilizing the area. Nonetheless, this allows the park to be filled with an explosion of color from flowering cacti and wildflowers in the spring. Some of the flowering cacti that grow amongst the park may include: barrel, beavertail, calico, claret cup and silver cholla. Lastly, there are also several other different wildlife that are native residents to Joshua Tree. Some of these wild creatures may consist of: the desert tortoises, which are relatively common in the park. Joshua Tree is an important habitat for these animals, since they are able to live to be 80 and older. It is also a home for more than 250 species of birds, including 78 native species that nest and raise young, and migratory species. Nevertheless, Joshua Tree allows the world to have a better serene view of the desert by reveling in the beauty of nature and what it holds within its core.
Joshua Tree not only offers wildlife habitat and a home, but it also provides visitors with several recreational activities to participate in. Many travelers' sole purpose of visiting the park is to find an escape from their urban lifestyle. Thus, it has become one of the most popular destination escapes for individuals who have been swapped with work, school, and everyday responsibilities. One of the most popular trails in Joshua Tree National Park is the Hidden Valley Nature Trail. This trail is about a mile long loop that takes visitors through their magnificent boulder valley. It gives hikers the opportunity to explore some of the rocks at a closer perspective as well as being able to catch a glimpse of a lizard or bird of prey. The Hidden Valley Nature Trail also consists of a variety of boulders and rock climbing areas that people can utilize and view from different locations along the trail. In addition, this trail is a great activity for new visitors since it allows them to get a good experience in the core of the national park. Another common place for visitors to stop by is the Cholla Cactus Garden. This garden is located along the Pinto Basin Road, which lies between the Mojave Desert as it slowly transitions into the Sonoran Desert. The view of the Cholla Cactus Garden is very iconic and breathtaking since it is surrounded by thousands of cactuses. The best time to visit the Cholla Cactus Garden is during the peak of early morning or during sunset, since it gives the plant an hourly glow. Nonetheless, Joshua Tree is a great place for people to go on backpacking trips. There are several different tour guides that offer accessible resources to help during the hike, which may consist of: handling permits, gear, transportation, meals, and provides a professional guide in order to fully enjoy your experience with the park itself.
The importance of national parks comes in many different forms. The national park itself serves as a great representation of supporting the ecosystem by protecting nature and wildlife. It is also important for visitors since it gives them the opportunity to improve physical and mental health as well as strengthen their social connections by sharing their personal experiences as a helpful way to educate others about caring for these sites.