Want to learn more about the mountains of Kenya? A geographically and topographically diverse country, the Republic of Kenya has beautiful mountains that are more than just a geographical feature! Please read this article to learn about the features of the mountains, their cultural significance, as well as their beauty.
There are almost 3888 mountains, out of which 3856 are named mountains. Mount Kenya is the highest peak of all these mountains, with an elevation of 5199 meters. It is one of the second-highest mountains in Africa and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kenya is located in the eastern part of Africa, more towards the southern horn of Africa, with diverse geographical features ranging from towering alpine peaks to mangrove swamps. The mountains’ beauty adds to the country’s natural features, making it a perfect place to visit!
Explore The Beauty Of The Mountains Of Kenya!
As a country with a topographical contrast, Kenya is located in the eastern section of Africa. The equator crosses the country across Nanyuki, Maseno, and Timboroa. These features highlight Kenya as a stunning destination that many wish to visit!
Being a topographically diverse country where the forests offer diverse wildlife, it is perfect to visit if you love taking safaris. There are also coasts and grasslands, making the location more diverse.
The nation is also highly agricultural, with diverse produce, including vegetables, fruits, and animals, even though the location is remote and can be difficult for regular travel.
An African safari holiday is a dream for every hodophile, and Kenya offers the perfect backdrop. With spectacular wildlife, astounding landscapes, and a melting pot of culture, Kenya ranks at the top of the travel list of everyone!
Moreover, the beautiful mountains play an important role in making Kenya a fascinating place! The country borders nations such as South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Somalia. So want to know more about the up-warped giants of the earth? Read along!
Highest Mountains Of Kenya
The total area of Kenya is 586,000 square kilometers, with high-rising regions such as high plateaus, mountains, arid deserts, and low-lying coastal areas, including islands and coral reefs. 7 freshwater and salt lakes are creating the Great Rift Valley cutting the country in half!
Kenya has two of the tallest mountains on the continent. There are several other mountains, most inactive or extinct volcanoes. The landscape is diversified, yet the mountains are as beautiful as ever! Read more on some of the noteworthy mountains in Kenya.
Mount Kenya
The highest mountain in Kenya is Mount Kenya, located in the center of Kenya, approximately 100 miles northeast of the Capital, Nairobi.
The mountain has several summits. Nelion, Lenana, and Batian are some. Bastian is the highest, with 17,058 feet, indicating the mountain’s peak. The mountain formed about 3.5 million years ago.
A well-known tourist destination, the Mount Kenya National Park surrounds Mount Kenya at the base. You can see elephants, buffalo, as well as colobus monkeys in the park.
You can trek the mountain’s peak of Lenana Summit as it is feasible without any mountaineering expertise. The rock kente is only available on Mount Kenya as well as the Antarctic, situated at the South Pole.
The Spiritual Connection Of Mount Kenya
Riuki is found on Mount Kenya, which in a spiritual context is considered the symbolization of the throne of God. Riuki is regarded as the pathfinder by the Gikuyu medicine men. They also believe it therapeutic as they put pebbles at risk as seers.
The history of Mount Kenya is interconnected with the Egyptians, Jews, and Ethiopians. Mount Kenya is called Ta-Neteru by the Egyptians, which means the abode of the gods. The God Hapi or lotus, the gods of the Nile Floods, lived on the mountain.
The farming communities that settled in Egypt in 7000 BC before the inundation of the Nile corresponded with “Isis,” the heliacal rising of the star. It was after the water from the Nile flooding receded, leading to rich dark silt across the Central African countries and highlands.
The land is called “Kemet,” which is fertile land ready for planting. They consider the lands around Mount Kenya as one of the fertile lands. It also believed that the goddess Isis hid her son, her husband Horus, to raise him from the dead.
They say the mountain has medical properties, and the locals consider it amazing. They pray to the mountains for protection and safety. Communities such as Maasai and Samburu are semi-nomadic people who use the northland of the mountain as a paying ground.
Mount Elgon
The second tallest peak in Kenya is Mount Elgon, located on the country’s western side, closer to the Kenya-Uganda border. The mountain has distinguishing characteristics, such as having one of the largest volcanic craters.
The top of the mountain is a flat-topped plateau made of basalt. The total height of the mountain is 13,852 feet, with lava tube tunnels across the mountain.
Elephants and buffaloes often visit the lava tube tunnels. A national park surrounding Mount Elgon also has rhinos, eagles, leopards, and duikers.
Mount Longonot
Mount Longonot is an inactive volcano that last erupted in the 1860s but is not completely extinct. The height of the mountain is 9108 feet, and the mountain’s slopes are filled with ridges.
Mount Longonot is a mountain in Kenya. A park nearby has plenty of wildlife, such as zebras and giraffes. The mountain is situated approximately 60 kilometers northwest of Nairobi.
Travelers can visit the park by car, and the base of Mount Longonot has a lot of forest, even around the top crater. Compared to many stony mountains, this one is thickly wooded across the slopes and the summits.
Satima
Mount Satima is also “Ol Donyo Satima,” which roughly translates to “Mountain of the bull calf.” It is one of the Kenya mountains! It is the highest mountain across the Aberdare range, with a height of 13,127 feet, and is located on the northern side of the mountain range.
The mountain has tussock grass and rocks in some areas and rainforests. There are bamboo forests and Moorland across a section of the mountain. The mountain has a collection of 150 species of plants, such as Podo and Cedar.
The mountain is part of the water catchment area for both the Sasumua and Ndakaini dams. The two dams for Nairobi City are the primary source of water.
Kinangop
Kinangop is a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley and the west of the Kinangop Plateau. It is also situated in the Aberdares, with extensive bamboo forests across the mountain in the lower portion. The height of the mountain is 12815 feet.
Moreover, the higher sections of the mountain are covered with tussock grass. The top of the mountain is rocky with open moorlands. The top of the mountain is quite chilly and turns freezing at night.
Ngiro
Mount Ngiro is located in the northern region of Kenya, with a height of 9344 feet. The mountain is part of the Great Rift Valley to the west overlooking the Suguta Valley. The upper slopes have forests, while the mountains is popular for cultivating bees.
The mountain falls under the territory of the Samburu people, while the Lmasula phratry performs bee cultivation. The clan claims exclusive rights to the water and the land.
Several other mountains and hills are situated in the nation, creating an exciting place for vacationing. If you are a hiking person, Kenya is the perfect place to visit as there are several advantages. There are enough mountains in Kenya for you to go hiking, as well as trails.
It is a perfect spot to share holidays as well as weekends with your hiking partners. Some of the tallest mountains are situated in East Kenya.
Kulal
The mountain Kulal is identified as a biosphere reserve with lava fields, and the origin of the mountain is a volcano. The moisture in the biosphere leads to rain as well as mist, providing hydrological services to the people in northern Kenya.
The mountain is located in the middle of East Africa, with steep slopes while deep canyons go across the mountain. It is also one of the driest places in Africa. There are forests across the mountain, a habitat for black rhinoceroses and elephants.
Marsabit
Mount Marsabit is surrounded by Mt. Marsabit National Park and Reserve, with a height of 1703 meters above sea level. The mountain has many craters, while the hills around it highlight the mountain.
Across the mountain are many low-lying arid plains with elliptical shapes 70 km long on the northeast-southwest as well as 45 km wide on the northeast-southwest. The mountain comprises weathered lava flow.
Mogila
Mogila is one of the mountains of Kenya with a height of 1698 meters. A local relief of 300 meters, steep slopes, and a small summit area characterize the mountain. Moreover, it is located in the Turkana, creating the Great Dividing Range.
Namanga Hills
The mountain is in the southern part of Kenya. It is located on the borders of Tanzania, with the highest point being 2548 meters.
The Great Rift Valley has four peaks: Suswa, Paka, Namarunu, and Menengai. The hills have a collection of hyenas, zebras, ostriches, as well as Antelopes.
Cultural Relations Of The Mountains Of Kenya
According to the Kikuyu tribe, they say the local Kikuyu god, N’gai resides at the summit of Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya is one such place that the local cultures worship. They consider these mountains the home of spirits as well as gods.
Mount Kenya is a spiritual mountain, as the local communities think of it as the residence of God. Ethiopians also consider it the home of God and revered in its presence. The belief gains further confirmation because of the snow at the top of the mountain.
The mountain is very close to the equator. Hence, it is quite surprising that there is snowfall at the top. There are thick forests around the mountain, and initially, the military dug the woods to flush the Maumau freedom fighters.
According to the traditional version of Mount Kenya in Kikuyu, a star fell on the ground with a bang and formed the mountain. The mountain has volcanic ashes and oozing magma which forms the Kenyte.
Mount Longonot has its Masai name, “Oloonong’ot,” meaning “mountain with many spurs.” The mountains are important as well as are traditional sites for worship by the local populations.
Some vow in the mountain’s name, while some send prayers based on cultural traditions. Both visitors and the natives join in collaborative activities such as mountain climbing and hiking.
Are The Mountains Of Kenya A Cult?
The high places in Kenya, especially mountains with snow caps, high mountain ranges, and island mountains, are cults. There are psychological roots of the communities who believe that mountains act as a heavenly ladder.
Besides the spiritual connection for the community, mountains are also helpful natural elements for humans as they bring rain, while they also have volcanoes. Volcanoes have a fiery side to them, representing the element of earth.
According to the myths based on the world’s origin, mountains are the first natural element from ancient water. The indigenous people believe mountains are a great phenomenon of the earth, symbolizing cosmic connection.
The local communities consider the mountains as shrines or altars for the Gods and worship them. For example, people in Africa often blame an earth deity when there is an earthquake.
They also consider snakes to be culprits, a belief that their cult teaches in the cultural practices of Africa.
Conclusion
Did you notice something unique about the mountains of Kenya? Most of these mountains have physical features giving an Alpine appearance. There are many ridges across the mountains, giving it a ragged nature.
So now you know about the beauty of the mountains, especially when it comes to the cultural aspect of it. People worshiping mountains is one tradition that integrates respect and protection of the natural elements.
People from different cultures in Kenya believe in spirituality and offer prayers to the mountains. Let us know in the comments below if you see any culture where people worship mountains too!
Sagnika Sinha is a content writer who is passionate about writing travel vlogs, entertainment and celebrity articles and literature-based pieces. With a 4 years experience in teaching, she loves reading books. A procrastinator by nature, she loves travelling, listening to music, planting and gardening.
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If you are planning an upcoming vacation to Mexico, then you must visit Tolantoongo, which is a box canyon, which is in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. The canyon is 1.5 hours of northwest, Pachuca, and about 198 km which is about four hours from Mexico City.
So if you wanna know more about this exceptional natural escape with beautiful hot water springs and natural pools and rivers with caves. To know more details about the Grutas de Tolantongo, then keep on scrolling down.
How Will You Reach The Las Grutas De Tolantongo?
With diverse natural resources, Mexico is a haven for visitors and travelers. The Las Grutas de Tolantongo is a natural system of grottoes and caves. The beautiful water flows from the Grottos to the river of Tolantongo, which flows through the hot springs, which act like swimming pools like natural pools.
If you don’t know what a grotto is, then it is a type of cave that is naturally made underground and flows through for thousands of years. Rainwater could easily seep down piercing calcareous rocks, which dissolved them.
Then the result that formed was a mesmerizing aquatic heaven with rivers, waterfalls, and even hot springs, that became Tolantongo.
How To Reach Las Grutas De Tolantongo?
Now that you know where this aquatic heaven is, you should be able to reach the place easily, as there are many options you can avail to reach the place. Here are the options you can select from.
1. Renting A Car Service
One of the most popular choices of transportation from Mexico City to la Grutas de Tolantongo. Although a car service can be expensive, it is still one of the expensive options.
So if you have a hefty budget, then you can easily avail of a car service. Well if you love a long stretch of road, then you will love the surrounding atmosphere while traveling.
2. Take The Bus
One of the cheapest forms of transportation is the bus service. The bus is public transportation that any tourist can avail of. The easiest way for you to get a bus service is through Mexico Terminal TAPO.
From the ADO bus service, you can reach Pachuca. The journey is a 2 hours journey by bus, although the buses run every 3 hours, then plan your timing accordingly.
You would have to take a bus again till Ixmiquilpan, the bus is about 2 hours journey which runs about five times a day. Then from Ixmiquipan, it is about a 14 minutes walk, from where you can get a bus to Tolantongo.
The bus journey is very jarring and tiring and it might take you 6 hours to complete the whole journey. And it will cost you about $12 to about $22. Since this method is so tiring and long, it is not recommended for tourists, as it would take them a whole day.
3. Join A Tour Group
Another possible transportation you can get to Las Grutas de Tolantongo is by organizing to join a tour group. If you are staying in Mexico City, for a few days, then the easiest way of traveling to Grutas de Tolantonga is with a tour group.
What Are The Things To Do In Las Grutas De Tolantongo?
Upon reaching Grutas de tolantongo, there are a lot of places you can do there, and a few of these things that you can do. The area is divided between two areas, which are La Gruta Zone and El Paraiso Escondido.
1. Tolantongo Hot Springs (El Paraiso Zone)
The hot springs of Tolantongo in the El Paraiso Zone are known as a stunning sight to see. There is a variety of hot springs, present here are mostly infinite pools, built on the side of grottos, cliffs, and swimming pools.
The temperature is somewhere around 96F and 100F. The hot springs were very relaxing and very popular, which have people flock there for this relaxing activity, so having a swimsuit with yourself is a must if you wanna go to the hot springs.
Read More: Top 10 Hot Springs Near Denver You Can Visit In Winter
2. Tolantongo Cave & Tunnel (La Gruta)
There are beautiful dark and wet caves and tunnels that you can visit and explore by yourself. Since the walls of the caves and tunnels are wet, you should carry water shoes, to avoid slipping. You can also go swimming in the pools in the caves, where you will find beautiful waterfalls.
3. Tolantongo River (La Gruta)
All of you who want to stay overnight at Tolantongo would mostly camp out near the Tolantongo river. The blue and warm Tolantongo river is a beautiful place to camp. There is more open space for people to gather and enjoy themselves.
Read More: 7 Best Places For Free Camping Near Me In Las Vegas
4. Suspension Bridge (El Paraiso)
One of the famous places of Tolantongo is the swing bridge which allows visitors a beautiful and luscious green environment.
The suspension bridge is an attractive tourist destination when you are visiting Grutas de Tolantongo. You should remember to wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking for a while.
5. Zipline (El Paraiso)
If you are an adrenaline junky and love adventure sports, then you are going to love Ziplining through the greenery of Tolantongo. Although it is not free, the price for ziplining is not as much, only about $10.
Wrapping Up!
Now that you know that Grutas de Tolantongo is a beautiful place state in Mexico. Then if you are visiting there you will find a comfortable grutas de tolantongo hotel. Or if you are staying there only for a night, then camping is the best option.
So if you think this article helped you in knowing more about grutas de tolantongo, then give your own article a like and comment down below.
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Are you thinking about visiting some of the national parks in Florida? Well, if your answer is a YES, then you have reached the right place!
Some people picture castles, roller coasters, and Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzels when they think of parks in the Sunshine State, but Florida's national parks are just as well-known as its amusement parks. Amazing ecological and biological diversity can be found on protected lands from the panhandle to the tip of the Keys.
Florida is the only area on Earth where alligators and crocodiles cohabit; the mangroves here serve as kayak mazes, rockets blast off over lagoons, and alligators and crocodiles share the same territory.
Keep reading this article till the end to learn about the national parks in Florida that you must visit this year…
Top 12 National Parks In Florida That You Must Visit!
There are a number of things that Florida, the Sunshine State, is famous for, and one of them is the National parks. These are a blend of nature and the history that humankind has made. So, if that is something that you want to know, then you have reached the right place!
Here are the top 12 best national parks in Florida that you need to visit in 2023:
1. Big Cypress National Preserve
The majority of people only experience Big Cypress National Park as a parallax of sawgrass and cypress trees against the billowy clouds of the Florida sky as they speed along I-75 or U.S. 41 via the windows of their vehicle. Most people only attend the visitor center because of need. However, some do so out of curiosity.
Big Cypress is only one of two places on Earth where the ghost orchid may be found. It also serves as a refuge for the endangered American alligator, and Florida's elusive but threatened panther population. Big Cypress was the first National Park Service unit east of Colorado to get this recognition as a Dark Sky Place, and it continues to be the southernmost Dark Sky Place in Florida.
This national preserve's swamp waters flow softly, producing the ideal environment for the name-bearing cypress trees to grow tall and strong and create a maze beneath their canopy for tourists who are more interested in aquatic activities.
Big Cypress is one of the last remaining undeveloped areas in South Florida, where backcountry camps, swamp buggies, and airboats retain a traditional way of life that was developed by indigenous peoples and the pioneering spirit of early settlers. Big Cypress truly has something for everyone, so we are now challenging everyone to give something back to Big Cypress in exchange.
2. Biscayne National Park
The most amazing features of Florida's seas are actually located below the surface. When people think of Florida's shores, they typically picture gentle waves lapping at the soft sand under a bright sun.
Four separate ecosystems, covering about 173,000 acres, merge to form rich edge communities, or "ecotones." These edges are home to an astounding variety of animals, including pelicans, manatees, sea turtles, hundreds of different types of colorful fish, and flora that are unique to the United States.
Over 600 native fish, neotropical water birds, migratory habitat, 20 threatened and endangered species, such as the Schaus' swallowtail butterfly and Florida semaphore cactus, as well as the previously mentioned sea turtles and manatees, can all be found in the park.
It also includes the Florida Reef, the only live coral barrier reef in the continental United States, and the northernmost part of the third-largest coral reef system in the world. A number of shipwrecks along Biscayne National Park's Maritime Heritage Trail have found their final resting places because of this reef, a project that was made possible with The Alliance's assistance.
3. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural crossings. It was constructed by the Spanish in St. Augustine to protect Florida and the Atlantic trade route.
In case you are wondering about all the things that you can do here, I have you covered. You can engage with the park rangers that are eager to answer your questions. They also provide the tourists with several interpretive opportunities that are active and available throughout the day.
You can attend formal presentations where a thematic program that lasts 15 to 20 minutes will be played. You can interact directly with cultural artifacts, get answers to your burning questions, and spend as much or as little time as you like at ongoing informal stations.
The historic Cannon demonstration or Musket takes place on the weekends mostly. These are held at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 01:30 p.m., 02:30 p.m., and 03:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The volunteers and rangers also dress up in period costumes to give the tourists the best experience of traveling back in time. You can take pictures of them and with them to experience the lives of the colonists that lived here.
4. Canaveral National Seashore
Canaveral National Seashore is a unique location since it's conceivably the only spot in the world where rocket ships, alligators, and nudist beaches coexist. On the east coast of central Florida, Canaveral preserves one of the state's longest stretches of undeveloped coastline.
Mile after mile of pristine shoreline offers a tranquil haven for sunbathers, sea turtles, and the occasional nudist; Apollo Beach, at the northern end of Beach Road, is the alternative to the crowded Playalinda Beach right across the street.
If viewing rocket launches from the adjacent Kennedy Space Centre on the park's beaches isn't your thing, you can also go kayaking through Mosquito Lagoon, a sizable estuary that occupies two-thirds of the park (but remember the insect spray).
5. De Soto National Monument
Conquistador Hernando de Soto's army of soldiers, paid mercenaries, artisans, and clergy arrived in Tampa Bay in May 1539. They encountered ferocious resistance from natives defending their homes. De Soto's search for glory and treasure would be a four-year, 4,000-mile journey filled with mystery, conflict, disease, and discovery that would shape American history.
Today, there are a number of things that you can experience at the De Soto National Monument. You can try on the European armor that consists of helmets as well as breastplates. This is one of the most popular activities of the people or tourists visiting this national park in Florida.
Aside from that, taking a fishing class and bird viewing are additional popular activities in this national park. Numerous bird species, including gulls, great egrets, herons, as well as American white pelicans, can be found at DeSoto National Memorial. If you're lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of bald eagles on the Manatee River scavenging for food! The De Soto Rancho Fishing Clinic is available in the park for adults and children aged 7 and older. Participants gain knowledge of fishing gear, casting, fish identification, and knot-making!
6. Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park, the most recognizable national park in Florida, is the Yellowstone of swamps, a 1.5 million acre subtropical wilderness teeming with terrifying species that makes Jurassic Park seem like a petting zoo and jet-black waterways and mangrove-lined coastlines.
This enormous park, the third largest in the contiguous United States, is too big to handle all at once. Alligator sightings are practically guaranteed along the Anhinga Trail, a leisurely 0.8-mile loop that leaves at the Royal Palm Visitor Centre.
You can rent kayaks and paddle up the Flamingo Canal on unnervingly quiet water while passing through deep forests and mangrove tunnels to Coot Bay by continuing to travel along the Main Park Road until it ends at the Flamingo Campground. Keep a watch out for American crocodiles and also manatees along the trip. They enjoy the brackish waters close to the shore.
7. Fort Matanzas National Monument
The next on the list of the best national parks in Florida is Fort Matanzas. From Fort Jefferson to Fort Barrancas, forts are as central to Florida’s national parks as gators as well as mangroves.
Chief among them is Fort Matanzas National Monument. It's one of the oldest fortresses in the state and is also one of the first forts-as-national monuments in the nation, designated back in 1924.
Originally built by Spanish settlers in 1742 to fortify the Matanzas Inlet in St. Augustine, it remains a resolute structure that stretches 50 feet on each side and is 30 feet high. Today, the fort is accessible via ferry, with ranger programs that shed light on its storied history.
Other park activities include relaxing at a beach or following the boardwalk trail off the visitor center parking lot, which zigzags through a shaded hammock forest.
8. Dry Tortugas National Park
Seventy miles off the coast of Key West is Dry Tortugas National Park, an aquatic wonderland of 99 percent water. The only land out here, seemingly in the middle of the gulf, is a handful of tiny keys, including the main attraction: Garden Key.
After the two-to-four boat ride from Key West’s Yankee Freedom ferry terminal, dock at Garden Key to explore Fort Jefferson, an ironclad fortress built in the 1800s that looks like a brick Pentagon.
Originally built to defend the Southern coast of the U.S. after the War of 1812, the fort also served as a temporary prison before earning national park status. Today, the structure—and the surrounding keys and waters—tells the stories of maritime combat and marine wildlife, best observed from the Garden Key beaches or along the underwater snorkel trails that surround the fort.
9. Silver Springs State Park
For years, tourists have flocked to this location just to take glass-bottomed boat trips through the state's breathtaking springs. In reality, Silver Springs State Park's glass-bottom boat trips were introduced over a century ago, and they continue to be popular in this area of north-central Florida between Orlando and Gainesville.
It's understandable, given that the park is home to surreal, crystal-clear water and a variety of animals, including otters, manatees, alligators, rabid rhesus macaques, and monkeys. Despite the fact that swimming is prohibited (due to the aforementioned alligators), Silver Spring is a kayaker's and paddle boarder's heaven, and there are 15 miles of shady hiking trails circling the 4.5-mile Silver River.
10. Point Washington State Forest
Point Washington State Forest on Florida's panhandle is a refuge of tall trees and hiking trails. Located seemingly miles away from the state's more well-known parks, you will find the longleaf pine as the main attraction. It is a tree that is so tall that it resembles a hybrid of a redwood and a palm.
The Eastern Lake Trail System, which supports the park's recreational options, is surrounded by these pines for miles. The trail system here contains several unpaved trails for cyclists and hikers despite being as flat as a pancake.
The nearby Grayton Beach State Park, which follows the coast as well as offers coastal forest trails, swimming chances, and kayaking on dune lakes, is definitely worth exploring.
11. Bahia Honda State & National Park
Bahia Honda State Park is a pastoral pit stop on the road to Key West out in the Keys. Calusa Beach, off Big Pine Key, serves as the park's focal point. Its turquoise waters entice swimmers, snorkelers, as well as kayakers alike (equipment for both activities is available for rent).
At the summit of the iconic Bahia Honda Bridge lies a truly picturesque setting. It is a historical structure dating back to the early 1900s. This was originally a crucial component of Henry Flagler's ambitious Overseas Railroad to Key West.
A little route along a portion of the bridge will lead you to one of the Keys' highest spots. Here you may enjoy panoramic views of the bay below. Stay for a photo-worthy sunset and afterward stargazing if you want to remember it forever.
12. Apalachicola National Park
A stone’s throw from the state capital of Tallahassee, Apalachicola National Forest is a natural haven. Florida's largest national forest clocks in at a whopping 633,000 acres. This park has two main sections. They are Bradwell Bay Wilderness and Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness.
Between the two, visitors can paddle, swim, hike, fish, and go off-roading or horseback riding. The park also exhibits striking biological and ecological diversity. It goes from longleaf pine sandhills and pine flatwoods to coastal plain hammocks, basin swamps, and floodplain forests.
The area teems with wildlife, like woodpeckers, bobcats, gray foxes, as well as alligators. Drink in the diversity on a one-mile loop at the Camel Lake Trail. You can also enjoy by kayaking to Owl Creek from Hickory Landing. You can also take a two-mile route along the Apalachicola River. This gets paddlers up close and personal with that classic Florida river swamp terrain.
Wrapping It Up!
In case you were searching for the best national parks in Florida, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same, feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and queries in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!
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Are you searching for the best national parks in New Mexico? If your answer is yes, then you have reached the right place.
There are many breathtaking vistas in New Mexico. It is in the Southwest region of the United States, yet tourists generally ignore them. The state is also home to the Rocky Mountains, and the Rio Grande. It is a variety of vivid canyons, cliffs, and caves in addition to its stunning but harsh desert landscape.
If you are planning to visit the state, you need to check out some of the best national parks that are located in New Mexico. If you don't know which one to begin with, you might just find his blog to be of help. Keep reading this article till the end to learn more…
Top 10 Must-Visit National Parks In New Mexico In 2024!
You can tour the magnificent archaeological sites that the Ancestral Puebloans left behind at several locations. It provides a fascinating look into the cultures and individuals who have influenced the state. They are protected as a component of the nation's parks and monuments.
With so many facets and breathtaking beauty on display, New Mexico more than lives up to its moniker as the "Land of Enchantment." And what better way to explore them than the national parks in New Mexico!
Here are the best national parks in New Mexico that you need to visit at least once in your life. If not in the year 2023!
1. Aztec Ruins National Monument
The captivating Aztec Ruins National Monument, which is next to the little city of the same name, is tucked away in the state's northwest. It has been guarding the ruins and remains of a fascinating prehistoric pueblo, thought to have been constructed about a thousand years ago, since 1923.
This magnificent archaeological monument has over 400 rooms to explore, with its Great Kiva unquestionably the standout. American settlers mistakenly credited it to the Aztecs. Visitors can enter a duplicate that has been meticulously recreated in order to see the real ruin's glorious stonework. You can also view it as it was in its prime.
The museum at the National Monument is definitely worth visiting. Especially if you want to learn more about the history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloans. There are lots of eye-catching exhibits and artifacts there.
2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park comes in second on the list of the top national parks in New Mexico. The fascinating Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the southeast of the state, not far from Texas. It is a remarkable location with more than 119 caves, the greatest and most impressive of which is Carlsbad Cavern, its show cave.
Although the state of New Mexico is breathtaking from the outside, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is home to at least one subsurface natural wonder. Carlsbad is far from anything else in New Mexico. It is situated on the border with Texas, is well worth the trip.
The Big Room is a natural chamber that is 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high. It is the third-largest cave chamber in North America and the seventh-largest in the world. Carlsbad is covered in limestone that an old coral reef deposited.
Intricate and enormous, Carlsbad is home to tens of thousands of rare cave formations. It includes stalagmites, stalactites, cave pearls, flowstones, cave crystals, and underground lakes. Visitors have the option of taking a ranger-led expedition into one of the less popular caverns. They can also explore the well-lit tunnels on their own.
The half-day Hall of the White Giant and Spider Cave trips are not for the claustrophobic. But the King's Palace and Left Hand Cave tours are appropriate for kids and beginners. The closest established campsite is in Guadalupe National Park, which lies across the Texas state line. Camping is permitted in the park's wilderness.
3. El Malpais National Monument
The state's westernmost national monument, El Malpais, is where a sizable volcanic field may be found. It is situated in a remote but breathtaking area just off Interstate 40 and is full of cinder cones, lava flows, and rock formations.
Its barren, devastated, and lava-scarred areas, which are a part of the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field, seem to continue on forever; the most recent flow occurred there about 3000 years ago. There are several amazing lava tubes for visitors to explore, some of which are home to shimmering ice caverns, tucked away among the isolated and rocky remnants.
El Malpais' immensely varied volcanic scenery provides solitary pursuits, leisure, and adventure. Unbelievable geological phenomena like lava flows, cinder cones, lava tube tunnels, and sandstone bluffs are just a few to explore. People have been adjusting to and living in this unique terrain for decades, despite what some may perceive as a barren setting.
4. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
In all of the United States of America and Mexico, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro is revered as a historic path for trade and cultural exchange. Trade and travel along this path influenced the settlement and growth of the larger Southwest and changed the lives of individuals and communities.
In addition to helping to break down barriers between cultures and improve the lives of those who live along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the designation of this route as an international historic trail honors the connections and interactions that have existed between American Indian, Mexican, Black, Spanish, and other European cultures both historically and currently.
The aims of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro were varied. Many of its users participated in the lengthy mission of the Spanish empire to convert American Indians to Christianity. However, the road was home to a wide variety of personalities; those traveling north included settlers, priests, and newly appointed officials; those traveling south included retiring officials, friars, traders, enslaved Indians, prisoners of war, and convicts.
The path was also a key route for trade, serving as a conduit for the exchange of products and knowledge. Each of the thirty-two waggons in a typical caravan along the road was pulled by eight mules and could hold around 4,000 pounds of freight. Most caravans also carried other livestock like cattle, lambs, goats, burros, and poultry. The freight included private goods, correspondence, mission supplies, and royal decrees.
Between El Paso, Texas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail stretches for 404 miles; the historic trail continues all the way to Mexico City. Along the entire length of the trail into Mexico, there are museums, historic sites, churches, and remnants of the old trail.
5. Fort Union National Monument
The territorial-style adobe remains of the greatest 19th-century military fort in the area are exposed to the wind. There is a broad valley of short grass prairie among the swales of the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Union served as a catalyst for political and cultural change in New Mexico and the Southwest for forty years. It happened from 1851 to 1891, whether those changes were wanted or not.
North of Watrous in Mora County, New Mexico, is where you'll find Fort Union National Monument, a part of the US National Park Service. On June 28, 1954, the national monument was established.
The site includes the remains of the third fort as well as the second of three forts that were built there starting in 1851. A network of ruts from the Mountain and Cimarron Branches of the previous Santa Fe Trail is also discernible.
From a self-guided tour and a much interpretive trail where the guides take the visitors through the fort, to a short 0.5-mile walk with a special focus on some parts of the fort, the tourists can have it all here!
The Fort Union National Monument opens at 08:00 a.m. in morning and stays open till eight in the night. You can visit this place on Saturdays and Sundays.
6. Bandelier National Monument
Another of the region's top archaeological sites, the magnificent Bandelier National Monument, is located not far from Santa Fe. It is located on the Jerez Mountain slopes and has a tonne of amazing wilderness, as well as various Ancestral Puebloan sites scattered throughout its picturesque surroundings.
It was established in 1916 and now preserves some of the state's most stunning, reachable, and substantial cliff homes. Visitors can explore caves, kivas, and ceremonial structures utilized by the Ancestral Puebloans for generations in Frijoles Canyon's magnificent peach-colored surroundings. There are Petroglyphs and rock art too.
Even though it is the most well-known and picturesque location in the park, there are many more amazing things to see across the national monument, with delightful wildlife, landscape, and views everywhere you look. It also boasts a fantastic museum that displays ancient artifacts and finds from archaeology.
7. Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Northwest New Mexico is home to the fascinating Chaco Culture National Historical Park, one of the most significant and magnificent pre-Columbian cultural sites in the whole United States. It is one of the best national parks in New Mexico. Its expansive site, located within the Navajo Nation, safeguards a large number of historically significant pueblos.
Pueblo Bonita, built between AD 900 and 1100 from pieces of sandstone that have skillful placement. It was once the hub of Puebloan culture and trade. The ruins of several "great houses," and other smaller structures are there all across the starkly gorgeous Chaco Canyon. Many of these are aligned with the sun's and moon's light and shadow patterns. In the wake of a protracted drought in 1130, everyone left their homes.
A network of old roads known as the Chacoan Roads connects the Chaco Culture National Historical Park to a number of formerly prosperous desert settlements. After visiting Chaco, go 75 miles north to the Aztec Ruins National Monument. It is a first-come, first-served campground at the end of a 21-mile dead-end dirt road. Here you will see another magnificent grand house and a recreated underground ritual space called a kiva.
The backdrop is equally stunning as the extensive archaeological sites, which are fascinating to investigate. The barren desert steppe has enormous mesas and stunning buttes. Visit the museum at the site before leaving. Learn all there is to know about the Ancestral Puebloans who once lived in the dry area.
8. El Morro National Monument
Imagine how refreshing it would be to reach water after days of sand-filled journey. El Morro (the headland) was a well-liked camping area for hundreds of years. This is because of a dependable waterhole concealed in the base of a sandstone bluff. Over 2,000 signatures, dates, notes, and petroglyphs are here from prehistoric Puebloans, Spanish, and American travelers. Make a pit stop at the El Morro National Monument while traveling.
Two paths are there at El Morro National Monument. To select the path that's best for you, stop by the visitor center and speak with a ranger. The tourist center is where all routes start and end.
Only when the visitor center is open can visitors access the trails of El Morro National Monument?. It is necessary to start hiking the Headland Trail by 3:00 PM. Before 4:00 pm, hikers who want to complete the Inscription Loop must start.
Let me give you some advice if you intend to visit the El Morro national park and want to know what to do there. On the Headland Trail, you can go hiking. The Inscription Loop is part of this 2-mile track, which also leads to the top of the El Morro bluff. With a 224-foot elevation climb, the course is somewhat challenging.
You can trek the Inscription Loop by taking a shorter trail. You can walk the half-mile trek to the pool You will pass through hundreds of Spanish and American inscriptions and ancient petroglyphs. The looping, half-mile asphalt trail is wheelchair accessible with some help. If you only have an hour or so to spend at the park, this is a fantastic option. It must begin at 4:00 p.m. at the latest.
9. Manhattan Project National Monument
The Manhattan Project was a groundbreaking, top-secret government initiative during World War II that saw the United States race to create and use the first atomic weapons before Nazi Germany.
One of the most significant historical moments of the 20th century was the American employment of these weapons against Japan in August 1945. The project gave birth to the nuclear era and left behind profound impacts, still felt today. Three key places across the nation served as the birthplace of the Manhattan Project: Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
The villages created to house the Manhattan Project personnel were private businesses and enterprises under contract with the project. Every community transformed into a hub of activity with theaters, shops, schools, hospitals, parks, and community gathering spaces.
The population of Oak Ridge had increased to roughly 75,000 by 1945. Richland, a Hanford Site bedroom suburb, witnessed an increase in population to 15,000, while Los Alamos had an increase to 6,000.
10. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Less than an hour south of Santa Fe, Tent Rocks offers slot canyons, strangely beautiful rock formations, and breathtaking views—everything you could desire in a desert hike.
Before opening up beneath the 100-foot conical hoodoos that give this national monument its name, the three-mile trail's first half winds through a slot canyon so narrow you can touch the walls on both sides. From there, the trail switches back up to the top of the mesa for a commanding view of the Jemez Mountains and the Rio Grande River Valley.
In the Keresan language, Kasha-Katuwe translates to "white cliffs." The people of Cochiti Pueblo speak it, which also co-manages the monument. An eruption gave birth to the volcanic tuff that formed the white cliffs, hoodoos, and Slot Canyon.
Tent Rocks does not allow camping and the route is only open during the day, although the Cochiti Lake recreation area is close by and has built campsites. It makes for a wonderful day excursion because it is a short drive from old Santa Fe.
Wrapping It Up!
In case you were searching for the best national parks in New Mexico, I hope that this log has been of much help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same, feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page, then leave your comments and queries in the box below, And I will be there to answer them all for you!
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