Major world national parks and protected areas

This article lists a selection of the world’s most important protected areas and national parks, noting the year of establishment and approximate area of each. The list is organized alphabetically by continent and by country within continents. Many of the sites mentioned here are designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as World Heritage Sites; more information on these protected areas is available at the official UNESCO Web site devoted to the World Heritage List: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list.

Many of the sites in the United States fall under the jurisdiction of the US National Park Service (NPS). A complete listing of that agency's managed areas can be found on its official website: https://www.nps.gov/findapark/advanced-search.htm.

Africa

Cameroon

• Dja Faunal Reserve
• Year established: 1950
• Area: 5,260 square kilometers (2,031 square miles)

Central African Republic

• Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1988
• Area: 17,400 square kilometers (6,718 square miles)

Côte d’Ivoire

• Comoé National Park (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1983
• Area: 11,493 square kilometers (4,437 square miles)
• Taï  National Park
• Year Established: 1972
• Area: 3,300 square kilometers (1,300 square miles)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Garamba National Park
• Year established: 1938
• Area: 4,920 square kilometers (1,900 square miles)

• Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
• Year established: 1970
• Area: 6,000 square kilometers (2,317 square miles)

• Okapi Wildlife Reserve
• Year established: 1992
• Area: 13,726 square kilometers (5,300 square miles)

• Salonga National Park
• Year established: 1970
• Area: 36,000 square kilometers (13,900 square miles)

• Virunga National Park
• Year established: 1925
• Area: 7,800 square kilometers (3,012 square miles)

Ethiopia

• Simien National Park
• Year established: 1969
• Area: 220 square kilometers (85 square miles)

Kenya

• Lake Turkana National Parks (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1997
• Area: 1,615 square kilometers (624 square miles)

• Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1997
• Area: 1,420 square kilometers (548 square miles)

Madagascar

• Rainforests of the Atsinanana (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2007
• Area: 4,797 square kilometers (1,852 square miles)

Namibia

• Etosha National Park
• Year established: 1975
• Area: 22,270 square kilometers (8,598 square miles)

Niger

• Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1991
• Area: 77,360 square kilometers (29,869 square miles)

Senegal

• Niokolo-Koba National Park
• Year established: 1954
• Area: 9,130 square kilometers (3,525 square miles)

South Africa

• Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2004
• Area: 5,530 square kilometers (2,135 square miles)

• Golden Gate Highlands National Park
• Year established: 1963
• Area: 340 square kilometers (131 square miles)

• iSimangaliso Wetland Park (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1999
• Area: 3,280 square kilometers (1,266 square miles)

• Kruger National Park
• Year established: 1926
• Area: 18,989 square kilometers (7,332 square miles)

• Vredefort Dome (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2005
• Area: 300 square kilometers (116 square miles)

Tanzania

• Kilimanjaro National Park
• Year established: 1973
• Area: 753 square kilometers (291 square miles)

• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Year established: 1959
• Area: 8,288 square kilometers (3,200 square miles)

• Selous Game Reserve
• Year established: 1922
• Area: 44,800 square kilometers (17,297 square miles)

• Serengeti National Park
• Year established: 1951
• Area: 14,760 square kilometers (5,700 square miles)

Uganda

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Year established: 1991
• Area: 331 square kilometers (128 square miles)

• Rwenzori Mountains National Park
• Year established: 1991
• Area: 998 square kilometers (385 square miles)

Zambia

• Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1989
• Area: 88 square kilometers (34 square miles)

Zimbabwe

• Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1984
• Area: 6,766 square kilometers (2,612 square miles)

Asia

China

• Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1992
• Area: 600 square kilometers (232 square miles)

• Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries-Wolong, Mt. Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2006
• Area: 9,245 square kilometers (3,570 square miles)

• South China Karst (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2007
• Area: 47,600 square kilometers (18,378 square miles)

• Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2003
• Area: 17,000 square kilometers (6,564 square miles)

• Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1992
• Area: 264 square kilometers (102 square miles)

India

• Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
• Year established: 1989
• Area: 885 square kilometers (342 square miles)

• Kaziranga National Park
• Year established: 1974
• Area: 430 square kilometers (166 square miles)

• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1985
• Area: 500 square kilometers (193 square miles)

• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1988
• Area: 718 square kilometers (277 square miles)

• Sundarbans National Park
• Year established: 1984
• Area: 1,330 square kilometers (514 square miles)

Indonesia

• Komodo National Park
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 1,733 square kilometers (669 square miles)

• Lorentz National Park
• Year established: 1997
• Area: 25,056 square kilometers (9,674 square miles)

• Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2004
• Area: 25,951 square kilometers (10,020 square miles)

• Ujung Kulon National Park
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 1,206 square kilometers (466 square miles)

Japan

• Shirakami-Sanchi (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1993
• Area: 169 square kilometers (65 square miles)

Kazakhstan

• Saryarka-Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2008
• Area: 4,503 square kilometers (1,739 square miles)

Malaysia

• Gunung Mulu National Park
• Year established: 1974
• Area: 529 square kilometers (204 square miles)

• Kinabalu National Park
• Year established: 1964
• Area: 754 square kilometers (291 square miles)

Mongolia

• Uvs Nuur Basin (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2003
• Area: 8,981 square kilometers (3,468 square miles)

Nepal

• Chitwan National Park
• Year established: 1973
• Area: 932 square kilometers (360 square miles)

• Sagarmatha National Park
• Year established: 1976
• Area: 1,148 square kilometers (443 square miles)

Philippines

• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1993
• Area: 1,300 square kilometers (502 square miles)

Republic of Korea (South Korea)

• Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2007
• Area: 95 square kilometers (37 square miles)

Russia

• Central Sikhote-Alin (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2001
• Area: 15,539 square kilometers (6,000 square miles)

• Golden Mountains of Altai (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1998
• Area: 16,115 square kilometers (6,222 square miles)

• Lake Baikal (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1996
• Area: 88,000 square kilometers (33,977 square miles)

• Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2004
• Area: 9,163 square kilometers (3,538 square miles)

• Volcanoes of Kamchatka (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1996
• Area: 38,302 square kilometers (14,788 square miles)

Thailand

• Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1991
• Area: 5,775) square kilometers (2,230 square miles)

Vietnam

• Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
• Year established: 2001
• Area: 858 square kilometers (331 square miles)

Australia

• Gondwana Rainforests (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1986
• Area: 3,700 square kilometers (1,429 square miles)

• Great Barrier Reef (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1981
• Area: 348,700 square kilometers (134,634 square miles)

• Greater Blue Mountains Area (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 10,326 square kilometers (3,987 square miles)

• Heard and McDonald Islands (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1997
• Area: 386 square kilometers (149 square miles)

• Purnululu National Park
• Year established: 1987
• Area: 2,397 square kilometers (925 square miles)

• Shark Bay, Western Australia (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1991
• Area: 21,973 square kilometers (8,484 square miles)

• Tasmanian Wilderness (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1982
• Area: 14,075 square kilometers (5,434 square miles)

• Willandra Lakes Region (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1981
• Area: 2,400 square kilometers (927 square miles)

Europe

Belarus

• Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Białowieẓ/a Forest (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1979
• Area: 927 square kilometers (358 square miles)

Finland

• High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 1,944 square kilometers (751 square miles)

Germany

• Wadden Sea (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2009
• Area: 10,000 square kilometers (3,861 square miles)

Greenland

• Ilulissat Icefjord (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2004
• Area: 4,024 square kilometers (1,554 square miles)

Iceland

• Surtsey (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2008
• Area: 34 square kilometers (13 square miles)

Italy

• Aeolian Islands (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 12 square kilometers (5 square miles)

• Dolomites mountains range (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2009
• Area: 1,419 square kilometers (548 square miles)

Norway

• West Norwegian Fjords-Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2005
• Area: 1,227 square kilometers (474 square miles)

Romania

• Danube Delta (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1991
• Area: 3,124 square kilometers (1,206 square miles)

Spain

• Doñana National Park
• Year established: 1969
• Area: 543 square kilometers (210 square miles)

• Garajonay National Park
• Year established: 1981
• Area: 40 square kilometers (15 square miles)

• Teide National Park
• Year established: 1954
• Area: 190 square kilometers (73 square miles)

Sweden

• Laponian Area (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1996
• Area: 9,400 square kilometers (3,629 square miles)

United Kingdom

• Dorset and East Devon Coast (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2001
• Area: 25 square kilometers (10 square miles)

• English Lake District (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2017
• Area: 2,292 square kilometers (884 square miles)

• Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1986
• Area: 0.7 square kilometer (0.27 square mile)

North America—Canada

Alberta

• Wood Buffalo National Park
• Year established: 1922
• Area: 44,807 square kilometers (17,300 square miles)

Manitoba

• Wapusk National Park
• Year established: 1996
• Area: 11,475 square kilometers (4,431 square miles)

Northwest Territories

• Tuktut Nogait National Park
• Year established: 1996
• Area: 16,340 square kilometers (6,309 square miles)

Nunavut

• Auyuittuq National Park
• Year established: 1976
• Area: 19,089 square kilometers (7,370 square miles)

• Quttinirpaaq National Park
• Year established: 1986
• Area: 37,775 square kilometers (14,585 square miles)

Yukon Territory

• Ivvavik National Park
• Year established: 1984
• Area: 10,168 square kilometers (3,926 square miles)

• Kluane National Park and Reserve
• Year established: 1976
• Area: 22,013 square kilometers (8,499 square miles)

North America—Mexico

• Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
• Year established: 1989
• Area: 7,284 square kilometers (2,812 square miles)

• El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
• Year established: 1988
• Area: 143,600 square kilometers (55,444 square miles)

• Isla del Golfo Special Biosphere Reserve
• Year established: 1978
• Area: 1,517 square kilometers (586 square miles)

• Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2005
• Area: 7,046 square kilometers (2,720 square miles)

• Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve
• Year established: 1971
• Area: 3,351 square kilometers (1,294 square miles)

• Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park
• Year established: 1947
• Area: 757 square kilometers (292 square miles)

North America—United States

Alaska

• Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• Year established: 1960
• Area: 78,000 square kilometers (30,116 square miles)

• Denali National Park and Preserve
• Year established: 1917
• Area: 24,585 square kilometers (9,492 square miles)

• Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 39,460 square kilometers (15,236 square miles)

• Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 13,287 square kilometers (5,130 square miles)

• Katmai National Park and Preserve
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 19,120 square kilometers (7,382 square miles)

• Kenai Fjords National Park
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 4,600 square kilometers (1,776 square miles)

• Kobuk Valley National Park
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 6,757 square kilometers (2,609 square miles)

• Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 16,308 square kilometers (6,297 square miles)

• Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 53,321 square kilometers (20,587 square miles)

• Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge
• Year established: 1909
• Area: 77,500 square kilometers (29,923 square miles)

Arizona

• Coronado National Forest
• Year established: 1941
• Area: 7,203 square kilometers (2,781 square miles)

• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• Year established: 1972
• Area: 4,856 square kilometers (1,875 square miles)

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Year established: 1919
• Area: 4,950 square kilometers (1,911 square miles)

• Petrified Forest National Park
• Year established: 1962
• Area: 380 square kilometers (147 square miles)

• Saguaro National Park
• Year established: 1994
• Area: 370 square kilometers (143 square miles)

Arkansas

• Hot Springs National Park
• Year established: 1921
• Area: 23 square kilometers (9 square miles)

• Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, Arkansas
• Year established: 1908
• Area: 4,694 square kilometers (1,812 square miles)

California

• Channel Islands National Park
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 1,010 square kilometers (390 square miles)

• Death Valley National Park
• Year established: 1933
• Area: 13,638 square kilometers (5,266 square miles)

• Joshua Tree National Park
• Year established: 1994
• Area: 3,196 square kilometers (1,234 square miles)

• Kings Canyon National Park
• Year established: 1940
• Area: 1,873 square kilometers (723 square miles)

• Lassen National Forest
• Year established: 1905
• Area: 4,300 square kilometers (1,700 square miles)

• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Year established: 1916
• Area: 429 square kilometers (166 square miles)

• Mojave National Preserve
• Year established: 1994
• Area: 6,475 square kilometers (2,500 square miles)

• Pinnacles National Park
• Year established: 2013
• Area: 107.67 square kilometers (41.5 square miles)
• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Year established: 1962
• Area: 288 square kilometers (111 square miles)

• Redwood National and State Parks
• Year established: 1968
• Area: 456 square kilometers (178 square miles)

• Santa Monica National Recreation Area
• Year established: 1978
• Area: 620 square kilometers (239 square miles)

• Sequoia National Park
• Year established: 1890
• Area: 1,635 square kilometers (631 square miles)

• Yosemite National Park
• Year established: 1890
• Area: 3,081 square kilometers (1,190 square miles)

Colorado

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Year established: 1999
• Area: 124 square kilometers (48 square miles)

• Dinosaur National Monument
• Year established: 1915
• Area: 853 square kilometers (329 square miles)

• Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
• Year established: 1932
• Area: 170 square kilometers (66 square miles)

• Mesa Verde National Park
• Year established: 1906
• Area: 211 square kilometers (81 square miles)

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Year established: 1915
• Area: 1,076 square kilometers (415 square miles)

Florida

• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Year established: 1974
• Area: 2,916 square kilometers (1,126 square miles)

• Biscayne National Park
• Year established: 1980
• Area: 700 square kilometers (270 square miles)

• Dry Tortugas National Park
• Year established: 1935
• Area: 249 square kilometers (96 square miles)

• Everglades National Park
• Year established: 1947
• Area: 6,050 square kilometers (2,336 square miles)

Georgia

• Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
• Years established: 1936 (Chattahoochee), 1959 (Oconee)
• Area: 3,504 square kilometers (1,353 square miles)

• Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
• Year established: 1937
• Area: 1,627 square kilometers (628 square miles)

Hawaii

• Haleakalā National Park
• Year established: 1961
• Area: 116 square kilometers (45 square miles)

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Year established: 1916
• Area: 931 square kilometers (359 square miles)

Idaho

• Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
• Year established: 1924
• Area: 2,893 square kilometers (1,117 square miles)

Kentucky

• Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
• Year established: 1974
• Area: 507 square kilometers (196 square miles)

• Mammoth Cave National Park
• Year established: 1941
• Area: 214 square kilometers (83 square miles)

Indiana

Maine

• Acadia National Park
• Year established: 1929
• Area: 186 square kilometers (72 square miles)

Massachusetts

• Cape Cod National Seashore
• Year established: 1961
• Area: 176 square kilometers (68 square miles)

Michigan

• Isle Royale National Park
• Year established: 1940
• Area: 2,314 square kilometers (893 square miles)

Minnesota

• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
• Year established: 1988
• Area: 218 square kilometers (84 square miles)

• Voyageurs National Park
• Year established: 1975
• Area: 882 square kilometers (341 square miles)

Mississippi

• Gulf Islands National Seashore
• Year established: 1971
• Area: 549 square kilometers (212 square miles)

Montana

• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
• Year established: 1966
• Area: 487 square kilometers (188 square miles)

• Glacier National Park
• Year established: 1910
• Area: 4,101 square kilometers (1,583 square miles)

Nevada

• Great Basin National Park
• Year established: 1986
• Area: 310 square kilometers (120 square miles)

New Mexico

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park
• Year established: 1930
• Area: 186 square kilometers (72 square miles)

• White Sands National Park
• Year established: 1933
• Area: 581 square kilometers (224 square miles)

North Dakota

• Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• Year established: 1978
• Area: 285 square kilometers (110 square miles)

Ohio

• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 136 square kilometers (52 square miles)

Oregon

• Crater Lake National Park
• Year established: 1902
• Area: 732 square kilometers (283 square miles)

South Carolina

• Congaree National Park
• Year established: 2003
• Area: 85 square kilometers (33 square miles)

South Dakota

• Badlands National Park
• Year established: 1978
• Area: 970 square kilometers (375 square miles)

• Wind Cave National Park
• Year established: 1903
• Area: 115 square kilometers (44 square miles)

Tennessee

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Year established: 1934
• Area: 2,109 square kilometers (814 square miles)

Texas

• Big Bend National Park
• Year established: 1944
• Area: 3,242 square kilometers (1,252 square miles)

• Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Year established: 1972
• Area: 350 square kilometers (135 square miles)

Utah

• Arches National Park
• Year established: 1971
• Area: 310 square kilometers (120 square miles)

• Bears Ears National Monument
• Year established: 2016
• Area: originally 5,470 square kilometers (2,112 square miles), reduced to 816 square kilometers (315 square miles) in 2017

• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Year established: 1928
• Area: 145 square kilometers (56 square kilometers)

• Canyonlands National Park
• Year established: 1964
• Area: 1,366 square kilometers (527 square miles)

• Capitol Reef National Park
• Year established: 1971
• Area: 979 square kilometers (378 square miles)

• Zion National Park
• Year established: 1909
• Area: 579 square kilometers (224 square miles)

Virginia

• Shenandoah National Park
• Year established: 1935
• Area: 796 square kilometers (307 square miles)

Washington

• Mount Rainier National Park
• Year established: 1899
• Area: 942 square kilometers (364 square miles)

• North Cascades National Park
• Year established: 1968
• Area: 2,769 square kilometers (1,069 square miles)

• Olympic National Park
• Year established: 1938
• Area: 3,584 square kilometers (1,384 square miles)

Wyoming

• Grand Teton National Park
• Year established: 1929
• Area: 1,242 square kilometers (480 square miles)

• Yellowstone National Park
• Year established: 1872
• Area: 8,990 square kilometers (3,470 square miles)

North America—United States territories

American Samoa

• National Park of American Samoa
• Year established: 1988
• Area: 42 square kilometers (16 square miles)

Virgin Islands

• Virgin Islands National Park
• Year established: 1956
• Area: 59 square kilometers (23 square miles)

South America and Central America

Argentina

• Ischigualasto/Talampaya Natural Parks (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 2,750 square kilometers (1,062 square miles)

• Los Glaciares National Park
• Year established: 1981
• Area: 4,459 square miles (1,722 square miles)

• Valdes Peninsula (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1999
• Area: 3,600 square kilometers (1,390 square miles)

Bolivia

• Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 15,230 square kilometers (5,880 square miles)

Brazil

• Central Amazon Conservation Complex (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 60,000 square kilometers (23,166 square miles)

• Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 2001
• Area: 65,500 square kilometers (25,290 square miles)

• Iguazu National Park
• Year established: 1939
• Area: 1,700 square kilometers (656 square miles)

• Pantanal Conservation Area
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 769 square kilometers (297 square miles)

Chile

• Torres del Paine National Park
• Year established: 1959
• Area: 2,400 square kilometers (927 square miles)

Costa Rica

• Cocos Island National Park
• Year established: 1997
• Area: 65,500 square kilometers (25,290 square miles)

• Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves/La Amistad National Park (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1983
• Area: 5,678 square kilometers (2,192 square miles)

Ecuador

• Cotopaxi National Park
• Year established: 1975
• Area: 334 square kilometers (129 square miles)

• Galápagos Islands (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1978
• Area: 140,665 square kilometers (54,311 square miles)

Peru

• Manú National Park (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1987
• Area: 15,328 square kilometers (5,918 square miles)

Suriname

• Central Suriname Nature Reserve
• Year established: 2000
• Area: 16,000 square kilometers (6,178 square miles)

Venezuela

• Canaima National Park (World Heritage Site)
• Year established: 1994
• Area: 30,000 square kilometers (11,583 square miles)

Bibliography

"Find a Park." National Park Service, US Dept. of the Interior, www.nps.gov/findapark/advanced-search.htm. Accessed 24 July 2024.

"World Heritage List." World Heritage Convention, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), whc.unesco.org/en/list. Accessed 24 July 2024.