It's safe to say Yellowstone National Park is still looking good at the ripe old age of 150. The park, which stretches into Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, is known for its unique natural scenery，bountiful wildlife， and deep history. It also helped usher（引领）in the broader national park movement in the U. S. , according to Chuck Sams, the director of the National Park Service.
"We now celebrate something much bigger than the park itself-the beginning of the national park idea, an idea that spread through the country and around the world, inspiring governments to protect natural and cultural treasures 'for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,'" he said in a statement.
Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. Bears, wolves, coyotes, moose, and a large population of small animals can be found in the park. It's also the only place in the U. S. where bison（野牛）have lived continuously since prehistoric times. It was looking risky for a period in the 1900s,when the animal was hunted down from a previous high of tens of thousands to less than two dozen. This bison conservation effort continues to this day.
Yellowstone shut its gates in March 2020 due to coronavirus concerns and remained closed for nearly two months. But the park broke attendance records after it reopened. The park reported 4. 9 million recreation visits in 2021-up 28% from 2020 and making it the busiest year on record. July 2021 was the most-visited month in Yellowstone's history and the first time visitation exceeded 1 million visits in a single month. It's Yellowstone's natural beauty and deep history that brings millions of visitors each year.
"Yellowstone's 150th anniversary will be an important moment in time for the world," said Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly."It's an opportunity for us to reflect on the lessons of the old days while focusing our efforts to strengthen Yellowstone and our many partnerships for the future."
