MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK.—­This fine forest park is the great summer outing ground of the people of the state of Washington.  Its area is 324 square miles, and as its name implies it embraces Mount Rainier.  Easily accessible from Seattle and Tacoma, and fairly well—­though not adequately—­provided with roads, trails, tent camps, hotels and livery transportation, it is really the Yellowstone Park of the Northwest.

THE YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK in California is so well known that no description of it is necessary.  Its area is 1,124 square miles (719,622 acres).  Its great value lies in its scenery, but along with that it is a sanctuary for such of the wild mammals and birds of California as will not wander beyond its borders to the certain death that awaits everything that may legally be killed in that state.

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK.—­Like all the National Parks of America generally, this one also is a game sanctuary.  It is situated on the summit of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon.  The wonderful Crater Lake itself is 62 miles from Klamath Falls, 83 miles from Ashland, and it is 6 miles long, 4 miles wide and 200 feet deep.  This National Park was created by Act of Congress in 1902.  Its area is 249 square miles (159,360 acres), and it contains Columbian black-tailed deer, black bear, the silver-gray squirrel, and many birds, chiefly members of the grouse family.  Owing to its lofty elevation, there are few ducks.

THE SEQUOIA AND GENERAL GRANT NATIONAL PARKS were created for the special purpose of preserving the famous groves of “big trees,” (Sequoia gigantea).  The former is in Tulare County, the latter in Tulare and Fresno counties, California, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas.  The area of Sequoia Park is 169,605 acres, and that of General Grant Park is 2,560 acres.  They are under the control of the Interior Department.  These Parks are important bird refuges, and Mr. Walter Fry, Forest Ranger, reports in them the presence of 261 species of birds, none of which may be hunted or shot.  Into Sequoia Park 20 dwarf elk and 84 wild turkeys have been introduced, the former from the herd of Miller and Lux.

OTHER NATIONAL PARKS

SULLY HILLS NATIONAL PARK, at Devil’s Lake (Fort Totten), North Dakota.  Area 960 acres.

PLATT NATIONAL PARK, Sulphur Springs, Oklahoma; on account of many mineral springs.  Area 848 acres.

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, Southwestern Colorado; on account of cliff dwellings, and wonderful cliff and canyon scenery.  Area, 66 square miles.

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NATIONAL MONUMENTS

Under a special act of Congress, the President of the United States has the power forever to set aside from private ownership and occupation any important natural scenery, or curiosity, or wonderland, the preservation of which may fairly be regarded as of National importance, and a duty to the whole people of the United States.  This is accomplished by presidential proclamation creating a “national monument.”