The United States has myriad natural wonders spanning diverse climates from its most southern and eastern regions to its furthest north and western regions.  Below are six of these amazing sites that highlights ecological wonders in diverse US regions:  

• The Grand Canyon: At 18 miles wide, one mile deep and 278 miles (447 km) long, The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most fascinating and awe-inspiring natural attractions; it is also listed as one of Earth’s Seven Natural Wonders.  Located primarily in the northwestern part of the state of Arizona and partially flowing over into Utah and Nevada, the Grand Canyon displays over two billion years of Earth’s history through its geologic formations and human artifacts dating back to 12,000 BCE.  Home to over 1,000 animal species and 2,200 plant/fungi/moss/lichen species, much of the canyon today remains on tribal land including the Hualapai, Havasupai, Navajo, Hopi, Paiute and Zuni tribes. The Canyon is protected by the US National Park Service as The Grand Canyon National Park.
  (References: NPS – Grand Canyon National Park | Grand Canyon Guru | Utah.com – Grand Canyon Expeditions)
• Yellowstone National Park: Home to the ultra-regular Old Faithful geothermal geyser, Yellowstone is located on top of an ancient super volcano covering over 2.2 million acres of scenic lakes, rivers, canyons and mountain ranges all carved by geologic activity. The first national park in the US and generally considered the first national park in the world, Yellowstone was established in 1872 by the US government and has been considered perhaps the country’s most popular attraction ever since.  The park covers an area of 3,468.4 mi² (8,983 km²), primarily located in the northwestern part of the state of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho.  Native American tribes lived in Yellowstone for 11,000 years prior to outside exploration starting in the 1800s; today 27 Native American tribes are associated with, inhabit and use the rich resources of Yellowstone.  Yellowstone’s landscape is largely carved by volcanoes, earthquakes and glacial activity, and includes fossil forests, eroded basaltic lava flows, volcanic plateaus, and three mountain ranges including a black obsidian (volcanic glass) mountain.  Over 1,350 species of plants and about 394 species of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles live in Yellowstone, including Grizzly and Black Bears, Elk, Bison Moose, Big Horn Sheep, Prairie Rattlesnake, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Osprey.

(References: National Park Service – Historic Tribes |  NPS – Yellowstone | Yellowstone National Park.com | Yellowstone Wildlife | U.S. Department of the Interior)

• Kilauea Volcano: Called Pele, the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess, Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes located on the southeastern part of big Island of Hawaii and rising 1,247 meters (4,091 feet) above sea level.  It is the youngest (estimated to be between 100,000 – 300,000 years old) of the five volcanoes that created and compose the entirety of the island; the state of Hawaii and its 135 recognized islands are estimated to have formed some 4.5 million years ago (only seven of the islands are inhabited by humans).  Despite almost continuously erupting since 1983, Kilauea is generally considered safe and offers spectacular views upfront and personal of volcanic activity that pretty much is unobservable as such anywhere else in the world.  It also anchors Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which is home to extraordinary flora and fauna including species that can be found nowhere else on Earth, including one of the largest populations of nesting seabirds.  

(References: World Atlas – How the Hawaiian Islands Were Formed | USGS – Kilauea | USFWS – Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge)

• Niagara Falls: Formed by glacial activity about 10,000 years ago, Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls – American Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls – which make up the border between New York state and Ontario, Canada. Horseshoe Falls straddles the border between the two countries while American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are located in New York.   The combination of its height and sheer volume of water flowing over the crestline of the falls each second (up to 100,000 cubic feet per second or 2,832 cubic meters) make it stunningly impressive and one of the United States’ greatest natural wonders.  Aside from providing amazing scenery and serving as a major source of hydroelectric power, Niagara Falls anchors the Niagara Falls State Park of New York which is the oldest state park in the country.  It is known for its wide diversity of birdlife including over 300 bird species (including 19 species of gulls) along with 50 mammal species (such as Red Foxes, Fox Squirrels, raccoons, muskrats, skunks, White-tailed Deer) and one of the regions’ largest and most varied populations of amphibians and reptiles.  Niagara Falls offers a personal exploration and hiking mecca on its 400-plus acres via its numerous trails, pedestrian bridges, walking paths, boat ride and observation tower.  

(References: Niagara Parks – Behind the Falls | New York State – Niagara Falls State Park | Wikipedia – Niagara Falls | Niagara Falls USA)

• The Everglades: Covering approximately two million acres of subtropical wetlands in central and southern Florida, The Everglades ecosystem is considered one of the country’s most complex and fragile bionetworks. Countless types and species of trees and other plants and foliage exist in a delicate balance alongside hundreds of animal species – including the critically endangered Florida Panther and Florida Manatee – along a diverse landscape from dry tree islands, pineland and mangroves to marshes, swamps and flooded prairie.  While the southern-most 20 percent of The Everglades is protected by The Everglades National Park, the majority of the Everglades is under threat by human development, water alteration/pollution, introduction of non-native species; yet, efforts such as the US Federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan are steadfastly working to restore, preserve, and protect the Everglades biosystem, its spectacular natural resources, flora and fauna.  The largest wilderness in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, the Everglades is distinguished as a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve and Wetland of International Importance.  Uniquely, it is a rare place where both the American Alligator and American Crocodile cohabitate amid the country’s impressive and delicate environments.

(References: National Wildlife Federation – The Everglades | The Florida Guidebook – Everglades | Visit Florida – Everglades | Conservation of the Everglades |USGS – Ecology of the Everglades)

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: Located in southeast Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park is a 3.3 million-acre (1,335,462 hectare) UNESCO World Heritage Site dominated by 1,045 identified glaciers amongst a backdrop of booming mountains, robust coastlines, glaciated valleys and tundra.  One of the world’s largest international protected areas, it is home to  over 40 different mammal species – including Humpback Whales, Orcas, Sea Lions, Black Bears Moose and Wolves, alongside over 300 species of plants that include robust old-growth forests of Spruce and Hemlock, grasses, meadows, sedges, shrubs and wildflowers.  Its elevation ranges from sea level on the Pacific Ocean to 15,266 feet (4,653.1 meters) above sea level at the peak of Mount Fairweather, one of the tallest mountains in the United States. The area is primarily accessible by ships (no disembarkation), and private access is available through the town of Gustavus, Alaska, via air and passenger ferry.  Popular controlled activities that allow appreciation of this relatively pristine ecosystem includes boat tours, kayaking, river rafting, fishing, glacier viewing and whale watching.

(References: National Park Service – Glacier Bay | Travel Alaska – Glacier Bay | RVShare – Glacier Bay National Park | National Park Foundation – Glacier Bay

This is just the beginning of the United States natural experience!  From the far reaches of the Arctic to the tropical climes of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific realm, the United States holds perhaps the most climatically diverse natural wonders on Earth that also include The Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite National Park, Crater Lake in Oregon, Black Hills in South Dakota, Death Valley in California, The Rocky Mountains, the rich ecosystems of Puerto Rico and American Samoa, and much, much more!