210 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND NATIONAL PARKS 



tained as far as possible in their primitive condition, no commercial 

 use is permitted, and the development is entirely for the people seek- 

 ing recreation and enjoyment in ideal wilderness and primitive con- 

 ditions. 



In 1933, by presidental executive order, two National Parks, 11 

 National Military Parks, 10 National Monuments, 10 battlefield sites, 

 and 4 memorials were transferred to the National Park Service from 

 the War and other departments. 



3. LOCATION, SIZE, AND FEATURES OP THE NATIONAL PARKS 



Most of the National Parks are located in the West because of 

 unusual features offered in the Rocky Mountains and in the Sierra 



FIG. 115. Chimney Tops in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 



Nevada and Cascade Ranges bordering the Pacific Coast. There are 

 24 National Parks and 68 National Monuments and other reserva- 

 tions. 



The parks vary in size from the Yellowstone, which contains 3438 

 square miles or 2,200,240 acres, to the smaller ones known as Carlsbad 

 Caverns, comprising 9,959 acres in southeastern New Mexico, the Abra- 

 ham Lincoln of 110 acres in Kentucky, and the Fort McHenry of 47 

 acres in Maryland. 



Each park is featured by some outstanding scientific interest; thus 

 the Grand Canyon of northern Arizona is regarded as the most sub- 



