Theodore Roosevelt National Park
| Theodore Roosevelt | |
 | |
| Designation | National Park |
| Location | North Dakota USA |
| Nearest City | Dickinson, North Dakota |
| Latitude | 46° 58' N |
| Longitude | 103° 27' W |
| Area | 70,447 acres 28,509 ha |
| Date of Establishment | November 10, 1978 |
| Visitation | 476,783 (2003) |
| Governing Body | National Park Service |
| IUCN category | II (National Park) |
Established in 1978, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a United States National Park comprising two geographically separated areas of badlands in western North Dakota. The park was named for President Theodore Roosevelt, who worked for a few years on a ranch now preserved in the park. The park covers 110 mi² (285 km²) of land in two sections, the main southern portion of the park and the smaller remote Elk Ranch section. The Little Missouri National Grasslands lie between the two units of the park, and includes a hiking trail between them.
The park's south unit lies alongside Interstate 94 near Medora, North Dakota. The northern unit is situated about 80 miles north along U.S. Highway 85, near Watford City, North Dakota. The Little Missouri River flows through the park.
The Little Missouri Badlands were explored in 1924 to determine possible park sites. Civilian Conservation Corps camps were set up in both of the future park units in 1934. The area was designated the Roosevelt Recreation Demonstration Area in 1935. In 1946 it was transfered to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge. It was established as the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park on April 25, 1947 and finally became a national park in 1978. 29,920 acres of the park was preserved as a wilderness area.
Both units have scenic drives, dozens of miles of foot and horse trails and allow backcountry hiking and camping. There are three automobile campgrounds, two in the South Unit.
A large variety of wild animals can be spotted, buffalo (bison), elk, pronghorn, prairie dogs, coyotes, wild horses to mention a few. Bison were reintroduced into the South unit in 1956, some 75 years after they had been extirpated. The entire unit was surrounded with barbed wire to try to keep the bison out the private land. The North Unit was fenced by 1962 when bison were reintroduced there. The park has a capacity for about 500 bison and relies on roundups to keep their numbers below this number. Captured bison are sold or go to other parks or to Native Americans. Wild horses are kept to a level of about 100 in the park through occasional roundups.
External link
- Official site: Theodore Roosevelt National Park (http://www.nps.gov/thro/)
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park (http://www.theodore.roosevelt.national-park.com/)
Categories: National parks of the United States | North Dakota