1 - YELLOWSTONE, The oldest.
Created on March 1, 1872 on the borders of the State of Wyoming, Yellowstone Park claims the title of the world's first national park. The region contains intense geothermal activity. Yellowstone has more than 500 geysers, including Old Faithful, the star of the park. This occasional geyser erupts every 74 minutes on average and its jet reaches 40 meters high. Also see: the Grand Prismatic Spring, a large pool 112 meters in diameter with unreal colors.
2 - GRAND CANYON, The most legendary.
In the northwest of Arizona, the Grand Canyon is one of the places that wrote the legend of America. This monumental canyon, 450 km long, extends between Lake Powell and Lake Mead, following the Colorado River. Several viewpoints have been set up to enjoy the panorama. The most dizzying? The Skywalk! This horseshoe-shaped glass walkway, located on the Hualapai Indian reservation at Eagle Point, juts out above the void to overlook the Colorado, 1200 meters lower.
3 - YOSEMITE, The greenest.
Founded on the initiative of President Abraham Lincoln, Yosemite National Park was officially established on October 1, 1890 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, nearly 300 km east of San Francisco. The park is organized around Yosemite Valley, a grandiose valley combining forest, rivers and waterfalls at the foot of imposing granite peaks, including the iconic Half Dome. Yosemite is also renowned for its wildlife: more than 400 species of animals coexist, from beavers to mountain lions to black bears.
4 - DEATH VALLEY, The driest.
Death Valley sets the tone: this desert located in southeastern California holds the world record for the highest temperature, with a peak of 56.7°C in July 1913. To enjoy the most beautiful view, you have to climb to the top of Zabriskie Point, at sunrise or sunset. Death Valley is also home to the lowest point in the USA: go to the banks of the Badwater Basin, a strange lake devoured by salt, which extends 86 meters below sea level.