Skip to main content

A New National Park

Tall, rugged rock formations rise above trees and shrubs beneath a partly cloudy sky.
NATURAL WONDER Rock formations called hoodoos tower over Chiricahua, a historic landscape in Arizona. DESERTSOLITAIRE/GETTY IMAGES

The United States has a new national park. Chiricahua National Monument is located in southeastern Arizona. On October 20, the Chiricahua National Park Act designated the land a national park.

The area is the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache Native Americans. The landscape was formed after a volcanic eruption 27 million years ago. The volcanic ash cooled and hardened into rock. Over time, erosion shaped the rock into formations called hoodoos. Visitors to the park can hike among them.

The park contains varied ecosystems, from desert to forest and grassland. Many animals call the place home. Bears, birds, and mountain lions live there.

Chiricahua was first protected as a national monument in 1924. Now it has been upgraded to a national park. Its new title recognizes the site’s importance.

Doug Burgum is the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. In a statement, Burgum called Chiricahua “one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes.” He noted its “towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage, and remarkable biodiversity.”

Stop and Think!

WHY does this news story include historical information? How might this be useful to readers?