National Parks - by Mel White (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Distinguished by the majesty of their natural features, the pristine state of their ecosystems, the significance of their history, and the abundance and diversity of their flora and fauna, the national parks represent the very best of the natural world in the United States.

Traversing the United States from east to west, this glorious tour celebrates the awe-inspiring beauty and breathtaking splendor of all 63 national parks. Travel writer and journalist Mel White's expertly written narrative describes the most significant geological features, plants and wildlife, local landmarks and recreational activities within each national park. Featuring more than 200 images taken by some of the world's best photographers, every park is beautifully depicted and accompanied by a detailed map showing the main access routes and places of interest.

Revealing a striking diversity of wilderness in the United States, celebrated parks such as Yellowstone or Grand Canyon National Park join lesser known and more remote areas such as Kobuk Valley National Park, located above the Arctic Circle, or Haleakala National Park in Hawaii. With stunning photography, the pages of this book will open doors to understanding more about these stunning locations, inspiring travel and allowing the reader to witness the very best of the United States.

About the Author

Mel White is a freelance writer who lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, and specializes in travel and natural history. He is a frequent contributor to National Geographic Society publications, having covered destinations including Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Borneo, the Amazon river, Madagascar, and the Swiss Alps. He has written or contributed to more than 25 guidebooks and nature-related publications.

Jeff Foott has worked for over 25 years, documenting nature and environment in both film and still pictures .Having worked in over 35 countries, he has produced over 40 films, shown in over 100 countries. His last film on Patagonia for the Living Edens Series was a finalist for an Emmy. His films for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, BBC have won numerous awards. His pictures have appeared in National Geographic, Geo, Natures Best, Smithsonian, Cemex Books and many others.

Cosmo Condina has a passion for creating travel imagery that is soulful and timeless. The mantra of less is more is evident in his collection of work emphasizing the small details of light, color and subject matter. Since 1990 he has been a contributing photographer to Getty Images, Alamy and SuperStock. Cosmo's work is licensed for commercial and editorial use worldwide.

Georgette Douwma has been diving for 29 years and has travelled extensively in tropical countries to photograph the underwater world. She has worked as a photographer for the BBC on various documentaries and is the assistant of the award-winning cameraman Peter Scoones, who filmed for the BBC series Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Life. Her photographs are published in books and magazines all over the world.

Richard Olsenius is a photographer, filmmaker, and former photo editor at National Geographic magazine. He has won over 100 accolades, including the World Press Photo Award for his series on Cambodian refugees and a Pictures of the Year award for his multimedia CD Arctic Odyssey. He is an author as well, with books ranging from the National Geographic Photography Field Guide- Black and White to Dog Stories.

Phil Schermeister has completed more than 40 major assignments for the National Geographic Book Division, National Geographic Magazine and other National Geographic publications. He has photographed on assignment more than 40 National Parks around the United States in the past three years. Some of his other assignments have included coverage of Quechua Indians in the Andes of Peru, Tarahumara Indians in Mexico's Copper Canyon and Native Americans across the Western United States.