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1) Grand Canyon ( although some may not know it's a National Park )
This!
Which is why I voted Yosemite. Many people know the Grand Canyon from Thelma & Louise and other pop culture references but wouldn't know it's a National Park like Yosemite or Jellystone (Yogi bear & bubu reference) which most know as parks.
I voted Yellowstone, obviously the grand canyon and Rockies are very well known. However i had no idea there was an actual grand canyon or Rockies national park. I thought they would have different names, (like Yellowstone been part of the Rockies?). I have never been to the US, the 3 mentioned and Yosemite are the only ones on the list I have ever heard of.
I think it should be a tie between Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, but we don't get multiple votes so I voted for Grand Canyon as being the most internationally known and recognized because it's gotten more global exposure than Yellowstone has, although Yellowstone comes in a very close second.
Decades of the Grand Canyon being taught about in school science and geography classes, seen in movies, TV shows, nature and science documentaries, on youtube and social media and thousands of pictures that have been posted online by visiting tourists has made it most recognizable for what it is even if one doesn't know the name of it.
I don't think it's important that any of the national parks listed in the poll are globally known by anyone as national parks, or even as parks at all, let alone national or state parks. Why should anyone care about that? They're all worthy of every bit of recognition they get as only a few of Mother Nature's many greatest and most beautiful natural wonders in the world regardless of whatever they're officially called.
Which is why I voted Yosemite. Many people know the Grand Canyon from Thelma & Louise and other pop culture references but wouldn't know it's a National Park like Yosemite or Jellystone (Yogi bear & bubu reference) which most know as parks.
Ok, if you're going to play the culture card, then I want to vote twice (or more). For 2 years I lived couple of hundred yards from Adam Clayton (The Edge U2) who made The Joshua Tree Album. Need to get that added to the options.
I don't think most people have heard of several of these, especially the National Park Service Sites. The parks and sites near large population centers garner many visitors, but may be unknown outside their local area. I would think that the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone are the most well-known globally.
I'm surprised with the amount of comments saying that people wouldn't know GCNP is a National Park?? Maybe just confirmation bias on my part, but It really surprises me.
Of those listed, the only one I haven't visited is Zion. Is it worth the effort?
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