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The US does quite well and has a wide range of landscapes. China is the most obvious competitor; it has some land-forms that simply don't exist anywhere else on Earth, but many of them aren't specifically located in China's equivalent of national parks (I think the literal translation is something like "national scenic interest area"). India also has a very wide geographic range. Pakistan's scenery is often underrated, though some of the best parts (like Swat province) are tough to explore now due to the threat of violence.
Russia might have taken the title back when its boundaries were those of the USSR. It still has a huge array of geologic features, from volcano ranges to some lush temperate rainforests near the Caspian and Black Seas, but it also lost its part of the Himalayas, it lost the bizarre enormous deserts of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, it lost the Crimea, it lost the hundreds of small valleys and gorges in the Caucus states, it lost most of its Baltic beaches, and so on.
In terms of countries with underrated park systems, Iran might be near the top:
That is indeed a rainforest. Iran has some temperate rainforests around the south shore of the Caspian. It also has mountain ranges, mountain meadows, a beach resort island called Kish, hundreds of miles of shoreline, and several different types of desert. It has a large salt lake called Urmia which is famous for its huge flocks of flamingos. It has large marshes and wetlands in the Shadegan region of the southwest. Before the fall of the Shah, Iran used to be a popular western destination for outdoors tourism because of its wide-ranging topography. It still has some of that industry even today.
Other countries with wide-ranging scenery include Chile and Argentina (the highest mountains in the Americas as well as climates ranging from hot desert to the subarctic), Bolivia (mountains, Amazon jungle, salt flats), Madagascar (all sorts of weird landforms, animals, and microclimates), France, Australia, and of course, New Zealand. Japan also deserves a mention - it stretches from the cold waters of northern Hokkaido down to the subtropics, and has done a superb job of preserving its best landscapes even though it packs a lot of people into a limited amount of land.
I think this is probably accurate. Although China probably has all of this, just not in parks. Canada would have a good chuck of it as well, but again, not in parks.
I think us, as North Americans, should simply be incredibly greatful that we're peaceful neighbours, and can enjoy what this great continent has to offer, at will.
I think this is a good point - Canada while having a very beautiful and extensive national park system isn't home to 300 Million + people supporting them. Much of our natural beauty is so remote very few are able to lay eyes upon much of it.
This depends on the criteria. In terms of variety of landscapes, the US wins. In terms of wildlife variety, perhaps India. In terms of sheer biomass (as well as variety), a tie between Kenya and Tanzania. In terms of vast expansion, perhaps Canada.
No I didn't I proved most of thee stuff he accused me of wrong.
Not quite true.
Your picture of the Rocky Mtns. is of Moraine Lake/Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, Alberta.
Most Canadian recognize it right away as it was on the back of our $ 20 bill.
Also your photo of Niagara Falls is Horseshoe Falls in Ontario, Canada.
Canada wins
A country of a similar size with a tenth of the population of another country
is bound to have more unspoiled wilderness.
Some Canadian national parks are even very difficult to get to (no roads in)
and therefore offer a more true wilderness experience.
Unlike the more popular US national parks,
I, personally have been stuck in traffic jams in Yosemite, Yellowstone,
Badlands, and Smokey Mtns. parks, kinda ruining the "wilderness" experience for me.
You visit national parks to get away from traffic, not to be stuck in it!
Your picture of the Rocky Mtns. is of Moraine Lake/Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, Alberta.
Most Canadian recognize it right away as it was on the back of our $ 20 bill.
Also your photo of Niagara Falls is Horseshoe Falls in Ontario, Canada.
Canada wins
A country of a similar size with a tenth of the population of another country
is bound to have more unspoiled wilderness.
Some Canadian national parks are even very difficult to get to (no roads in)
and therefore offer a more true wilderness experience.
Unlike the more popular US national parks,
I, personally have been stuck in traffic jams in Yosemite, Yellowstone,
Badlands, and Smokey Mtns. parks, kinda ruining the "wilderness" experience for me.
You visit national parks to get away from traffic, not to be stuck in it!
Canada's parks would be crowded if the country was populated by more than just a few mounties riding aimlessly in search of the trollop named Nell.
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