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Idaho State ParksThe Mouth Of The Deepest Canyon In America Is Located In An Idaho State Park
There are currently thirty Idaho State Parks in the system of this landlocked mountainous state in the north western part of the United States. Idaho has one of the lowest population densities in America with only sixteen people per square mile. The state has some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the States, for example, The River Of No Return Wilderness Area is 2.3 million acres of protected wilderness in its totally natural condition. Idaho is also a state full of naural resources, in fact its nickname is the "Gem State" because nearly every known gemstone has been uncovered there. It is the only place in the world where six-pointed star garnets have been found.
The geography of the state is simply stunning! There are snow capped mountains, crystal clear rivers with boiling rapids, huge lakes and deep canyons. The Snake River runs through Hells Canyon which is North America`s deepest river gorge. Well known mountain ranges are spread over the whole state, the Sawtooth Range, Bitterroot Range, Lost River Range and the Clearwater Mountains are to name just a few. The highest point in the state is Borah Peak which stands at an elevation of 12,662 feet.
It is believed that man has lived in the Idaho area for as much as 14,500 years. Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls have unearted some of the oldest human artifacts ever to be discovered in North America. The American Indian tribes who called the region home include the Nez Perce and the Shoshone. When Idaho was part of the Oregon Country it was claimed by both the United States and Britain but the U.S. gained undisputed jurisdiction in 1846. Idaho achieved statehood and was the 43rd state to be admitted to the Union on July 3rd 1890.
The Idaho State Parks system began in 1908 when Heyburn State Park was created, not only is it the oldest Idaho State Park but it is also the oldest in the Pacific North-West. The authority that controls the parks system is the Idaho Department Of Parks And Recreation,(DPR) but for many years the system was managed by the State Land Board and briefly during the 1940`s by the Idaho Transportation Department. The DPR was formed in 1965 as a means of qualifying for Federal funds and also a donation of land which was to create Harriman State Park. In a state that has a population of just over 1.5 million people the Idaho State Parks have proved to be extremely popular. They have an annual visitation of almost five million people.
The parks in the system are very diverse. They include the 18 acre Coeur d`Alene`s Old Mission State Park which showcases a Jesuit Mission in the oldest building in Idaho which dates back to 1853. Also the Bruneau Dunes State Park is centered around sand dunes that rise 470 feet above several nearby small lakes. Farregut State Park is the site of a World War Two United States Navy training base while Massacre Rocks State Park has the famous Oregon Trail passing through it. If you want further information about any of the state parks in Idaho, here is the website of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
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