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Its name Spanish for “green table”, Mesa Verde National Park is an anomaly among America’s national parks. It’s one of very few parks that don’t attract people because of their spectacular landscapes, wildlife or adventurous activities.

Instead, it draws in visitors who want to learn about and explore Native American history and culture. Basically all attractions at Mesa Verde are man-made and cultural.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mesa Verde National Park contains almost 5,000 Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

Awe-Inspiring Overlooks and Viewpoints in the National Parks

Besides wildlife and outdoor adventures, many people visit America’s national parks to see some of the country’s greatest landscapes. While some views require several miles of hiking, there are also many spectacular, easily accessible overlooks and viewpoints in the national parks.

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25 National Parks That Preserve Native American Heritage & Cultural Sites

With all that overwhelming natural splendor, it’s easy to forget that the National Park System also preserves a wealth of other things and places. In fact, there are literally thousands of Native American heritage and cultural sites in America’s national parks, preserving archaeological sites, battlefields and cultural landmarks.

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16 Best U.S. National Parks for Stargazing

Preserving some of America’s last remaining pristine night skies, many national parks offer amazing stargazing and Milky Way viewing opportunities. From Mesa Verde and Death Valley to Glacier and Voyageurs, these national parks have the most spectacular star-peppered night skies. “Half the park is after dark!”

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Mesa Verde Is the World’s 100th International Dark Sky Park

The National Park Service (NPS) and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced the designation of Mesa Verde National Park as the world’s 100th International Dark Sky Park. This important certification is the result of the park’s efforts to implement responsible lighting policies, which enhance the already-exceptional quality of its night sky.

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Top 12 Most Photogenic Buildings in National Parks

With their mesmerizing natural beauty and abundant wildlife, America’s national parks aren’t exactly the dream destinations of architecture lovers. At least, that’s what they think. The truth is that you can find gorgeous and photogenic buildings in national parks all over the U.S.

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Canyon Captures – My Favorite Photos of the Colorado Plateau National Parks

Nowhere else in the world will you find landscapes quite like those that characterize southern Utah, northern Arizona and southwestern Colorado. Here, in the middle of the Colorado Plateau—and incidentally also at the top of the plateau—scattered woods alternate with high desert scenery.

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