Chapter 8: Land

Section 8.3:

Public Land in the U.S.

Ice Age N.P., Wisc.

In the early 1870’s, a group of explorers approached Congress on their concerns of magnificant

western lands that would be devastated by logging, mining,

farming, and development.

They asked Congress to protect this land by setting

it aside for the public to use and enjoy - Congress agreed and formed the first national

park – Yellowstone National Park.

Today there are about 55 national parks in the United States, and the

federal government has required and protected various other types of

public lands.

Antietam National Cemetery,

Sharpsburg, Md.

Forty percent of all the land in the U.S. is publicly owned – managed by federal, state and local governments.

Arches N.P.,

Moab, Ut.

Because land resources are so valuable, the federal government

allows most public land to be used in multiple ways.

Big Cypress Nat. Preserve,

Ochopee, Fl.

Major U.S. Public lands

Big Hole N.B.,

Wisdom, Mont.

Buck Island Reef Nat. Monument.,

Christiansted, VI.

National Parks and Monuments

81 million acres

Hiking, camping, boating, fishing.

Commemoration of historical sites.

In some areas, hunting and

mineral extraction.Badlands N.P.

Southwestern SD

National Wildlife Refuges• 92 million acres• Wildlife

conservation, recreational activities, breeding areas for commercial fish, education and scientific research.

Denali National Preserve,

Denali Park, AK

National Resource Land

• 109 million acres

• Recreation, wildlife conservation, and industry such as livestock grazing or mining. Cumberland Island National Seashore,

St Marys, GA

National Forests

• 219 million acres• Recreation and

commercial uses such as logging, grazing, and mining.

• Sometimes the land is leased for ski resorts or similar adventures.

Olympic N.P., Port Angeles, WA