The US has over 400 national parks across the country. If you thought national parks were just a common place to visit for recreational (消遣的) activities, you might want to think again. Here are some reasons why national parks are great.
Biodiversity like nowhere else
National parks are often chosen to protect threatened (受到威胁的) or unique ecosystems and geography. It is no surprise that parks are some of the most biodiverse places in the US. (1)
C
.
An unbreakable connection to nature
(2)
A
. Nature encourages physical activity, recreation and calmness, and has even been shown to reduce depression (沮丧). National parks provide people with natural spaces to visit and chances to connect with nature.
(3)
B
National parks contain forested areas that not only protect water sources, but also help stabilize (稳固) the surrounding land. This can save lives and buildings by preventing landslides, avalanches (雪崩) and erosion. These areas also reduce floods by preserving wetlands. (4)
F
.
Parks improve the economy
Parks bring visitors to small rural communities that otherwise would never see the same economic activity. These "gateway" communities benefit through jobs in hotels, restaurants, gift shops and within the park as tour guides. In 2015, 4 million visitors at Yellowstone National Park generated (产生) nearly $500 million in spending, leading to 7,735 jobs and $225 million in income for workers. (5)
E
.
