Nowadays, in a world full of cars, computers, cell phones, people are yerning for the nature. We are longing for trees, wild animals and for the wonders of nature. We would like to break free from the human world as it is turning too fast and in too big noise. Sometimes we can hear nature calling us. One of the loudest voice of nature can be heard in Yellowstone. This is national park of United States, one of the biggest in the world and on the other hand one of the oldest.
The autstanding number of visitors - around 3 million peopeple per year tells us about a great popularity which was gained by the wild animals, like bears, wolves, deers, buffalos. It is hard not to mention famous in the whole world geysers of water. There is over 10 thousand geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone. "Old Faithul" is the old, faithful gayser which spew the water at 130 feet, every hour or hour and a half and it is one of the biggest attraction of the park.
So, if you are interested in the past life in the bosom of nature the visit to the National Park "Yellowstone" may be the best lesson for you. Just remember that you can meet there Grizzly bears and be prepared to share your breakfast or lunch with them.
This land of geysers and geothermal areas is devided into parts: Upper Geyser Basin, Lower Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin and Norris Geyser Basin. The number of geysers and theyr eruption make Yellowstone the only such place in the world. While watching this amazing performance you must remember that the water is very hot and you must stay in a places intended for spectators. The Native Americans believed that the explosions of the geysers were caused by the fights between spirits on the other hand they used hot water in their kitchen and to run a hot bath.
Of course, geysers are not the only wonders that you can admire in Yellowstone. The park is also home for mammals from the biggest one to the smallest. It is place where all the species from America were gathered together and they are protected against extinction. And the mammals are the main topic of this article. I would like to introduce you some of the most interesting species.
GRIZZLY BEARS
Grizzly Bears which are the family to European Bears are the inhabitants of Yellowstone. Their number differs from 210 - 610. Their colour also differs from brownish to black. It depends on the diet and temperature. The Grizzly Bear usually weights of 180 - 680 kg. They are really big. The male Bears are twice as big as female. They can run very quickly. They are represending a line of bears which are almost extincted that is why they are protected in national parks. If you meet a bear in the park you better walk away beacause, although they are concidered as very peaceful sometimes they may attack the visitor. Remember not to run as than they will chase you.
BISON
The other name for Bison is Buffalo. They are also inhabitants of the park and they belong to the biggest mammals of Yellowstone. Bisons live in herds and they are a kind of cattle. They can be 2 meters high, 3 meters long and their weight is 450 - 900 kg. The fur of Bisons is usually brown and its longer in the winter time and shorter in the summer time. The female can only have one baby - bison a year. They live about 18 - 35 years. Sometimes you can meet white buffalo but they are very rare. The white Bisons were concidered as sacred. Their herds were very numerous but they were hunted in XIX th century in such big numbers that today they are also endangered. You need to be very careful if you meet a buffalo in your way as they can attack you and they can run even 75 km per hour.
TRUMPETER SWANS
Yellowstone is home for big animals as you can see. It is also home for the biggest swan in the world. Its name is Trumpeter Swan. It is white bird with black bill and black legs. It is concidered as the biggest one not without a reason. His spread wings may be even 3 meters long. The female swan can have from 3 - 6 eggs during one litter. Very characteristic fact about this birds is that they are moulting in a summer time. They are also one of the heaviest flying birds as they can weight 23 - 27 pounds. They belond to endengered species.
WOLVES
It is also called grey wolf. This animals which were dangerous for people and other animals kept on farms were hunted in large numbers and today they are endangered. Their weight and size dependes on the diet, temperature and environment. They may be about 1 meter high and 25 - 65 kg heavy. They are about 1 - 2 meters long. They are known of their long - distance travels. They can run even 65 km per hour but their usual pace is about 10 km per hour. They are very tough and strong animals. Thay can easly adopt to very hard conditions of weather or terrain. Their colours differs and may be grey, black, red, brown, white. They are very often mixed. The wolves are known of their stamina and strengh. They can attack and kill much bigger animals like buffalos and bears. In Yellowstone they are eating elks very often. They are hunting in packs. Lately there was about 185 wolves living in Yellowstone Park.
MOOSE
This animals may be also called Elks and they belong to the deer family. They eat grass and twigs of trees. The female can have one or soemtimes two calves. The females can also moo very loudly. She can be heared from around three km. The moose can live from 15 - 25 years. It is better to stay away from moose especially from female with calves.
As you can see there is many species of different animals in Yellowstone Park and I have written only about few of them. Of course the animals are not the only one which are worth seeing.
Anather wonder of nature in Yellowstone is Grand Canyon. It is placed upon the river Yellowstone and it is 275 meters deep and 8 km wide. It belongs to the Lower Yellowstones Falls. In the beggining it was a kind of basin for the water from hot springs and later it was shaped by the melting glacier. Nowadays, we can admire there many yellow rocks - that is the reason of the name of the Park - Yellowstone. The yellow colour is the result of chemical changes and the presence of iron in the rocks. The Canyon is the place were you can see the breath taking Falls. You can see the nature and environment which is not contaminated by cars and fumes. You can relax there and sit by the amazing Tower of Falls.
Yellowstone Park may be excellent place for your holidays. If you want to spend your free time in an extraordinary way you can take a rifting trip. This is the great way of relax . It may be the adventure of your lifetime. There are special companies which take care about water rafting. You can rent a rift with a guide inside who will show you what to do and how to row through the Yellowstone River. During this kind of trip not only will you have occasion to admire the nature of the Park but also you will be able to touch it. You will visit Electric Peak, Devils Slide and LaDuke Hot Spring.
If you are not intrested in water rafting you can also camp along the Yellowstone. Remeber that when you cross the border of the Park you are on the land of big animals and nature. There are almost no roads. You can walk through the Park and hike if you want but you need to be prepared for that kind of expedition. First of all it is very important to tell somebody where exactly are you going, where and when are you going to start and finish your expedition. Remember that however you are allowed to hike in the Park you must always pitch your tent in the campsite. If you want to plan your trip carefully and avoid unnecessary problems the best way is to visit Ranger Station. You will get necessary information.
If you are neither a rafter nor a hiker you can also take a ride on a horse back. This is a perfect way of admiring beautiful landscapes. You won't have to walk or hike you will just sit on a horse back and watch the wonders of the nature.
After a gret time in Yellowstone Park you can also visit Wyoming State as it is very interesting place which is the neighbourhood of the wild Park. You will feel like in a Wild West as you can meet there cowboys and Indians. One of the most famouse enetertainment of Wyoming is RODEO. The cities where those amazing performances take place are the capital city of the state - Cheyenne , Cody and Lander. This kind of spending free time is the best way of dispelling tenssion.
On the other hand you can also see Native Americans and their old traditions and culture as you can be a witness of powwows. The powwow is the gathering of council of elders and the same it is a meeting of Indians. This usually occures in the summer time. The powwows are also accompanied by the traditional dances, songs, clothes and other things. This meetings of Native Americans help them to spread thir culture and to keep it alive. This is a way of showing to the white people that Indians are still existing and that their culture is very rich and interesting. Of course this is also a great business for Indians as they are selling many souvenires.
The biggest and the most attractive meeting of Native Americans takes place in Fort Washakie and is called Eastern Shoshone Indian Days. These are the days of competitions, All Indian Rodeo, horse riding performances and races. The Indian Days are annual meeting which always takes place in the last week of June. But before Shoshone Indian Days you have to visit Plains Indian Museum Powwow in Cody where you will meet many Indian artists. They are dancing together and singing and later most of them move to the Fort Wassakie. They are Indians from all over America.
Finally, you can also visit some museums around the Yellowstone. Of course the Park can be counted as the biggest museum in the area as you can watch there animals and nature which are unfortunately not to be seen anywhere else. The next very interesting place in Wyoming is Buffalo Bill Historical Center at Cody. The Center consists of five other museums: The Draper Museum of Natural History, The Whitney Gallery of Western Art, The Cody Firearms Museum, The Plains Indian Museum, The Buffalo Bill Museum. This Center of Museums are the best in whole United States. You can learn there a lot about Wild West, Native Americans and the environment. The first museum which was founded to commemorate the famous cowboy and artist in one person - Buffalo Bill in 1927. This was the beginning of the Center which soon grew bigger and now is home of four other Museums. It is not to be missed.
If you want to spend your free time away from your normal life, cars, work and problems the Yellowstone attractions are the best choice. Quiet, peaceful and calm places, with breath taking landscapes and views will sooth your nerves. You can also learn many new things about animals which are inhabitants of Yellowstone Park and are endangered, about hot springs and Native Americans who were the first people on this land. The trip to the Yellowstone National Park will be the best holidays of your life.
