A New National Park
The United States has a new national park. Chiricahua National Monument is located in southeastern Arizona. On October 20, the Chiricahua National Park Act redesignated the land as a national park.
The area is the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache Native Americans. The stunning landscape was formed after a massive 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 these tall pillars.
The park contains miles of trails through thousands of acres of varied ecosystems, from desert to forest and grassland. Many animals call the park home, including bears, birds, and mountain lions.
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” due to its “towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage, and remarkable biodiversity.”
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