Shenandoah National Park: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Shenandoah
Designation	National Park
Location	West Central Virginia, United States
Nearest Cities	Front Royal, Virginia, Luray, Virginia, Waynesboro, Virginia
Latitude	38° 32' N
Longitude	78° 21' W
Area	199,017 acres 80,539 ha
Visitation	1,511,016 (2002)
Date of Establishment	Authorized May 22, 1926, Established December 26, 1935
Governing Body	National Park Service
IUCN category	II (National Park)

Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Piedmont region of Virginia. The park is long and narrow, with a broad valley on either side. The park contains 199,017 acres (805 sq. km).

Attractions

The park is best known for Skyline Drive, a 105 mile road that runs the entire length of the park along the ridge of the mountains. The drive is particularly popular in the fall when the leaves are changing colors. 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail are also in the park. In total, there are over 500 miles of trails within the park. There is also horseback riding, camping, bicycling, and 10 waterfalls.

• Mammals: Dear, black bear, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, opossum, groundhog, gray fox, and eastern cottontail rabbit.

• Over 200 species of birds make their home in the park for at least part of the year. About thirty live in the park year round, including barred owls, Carolina chickadees red-tailed hawks, and wild turkeys.

• Thirty-two species of fish have been seen in the park, including brook trout, longnose and blacknose dance, and the bluehead chub.

• Plants include Oak, hickory, chestnut, maple, Mountain laurel, milkweed, daisies, and many species of ferns.

Shenandoah was authorized in 1926 and fully established on December 26, 1935. Prior to being a park, much of the area was farmland and there are still remnants of old farms in several places.

See also: National parks (United States), List of national parks