Yellowstone Park Turns 150
Yellowstone Park has drawn millions of people since its establishment 150 years ago. More recently, however, the park’s offering of peace may be its biggest lure.
A recent Gallup poll stated the world was a sadder, angrier, more worried and more stressed-out place in 2020 than at any point in Gallup’s global tracking. How did we all cope?
Yellowstone recorded its greatest number of recreational visits ever in 2021, with 4,860,537 guests; a million more than the previous year.
Time spent in such outdoor spaces has been essential to physical and mental health during the pandemic, according to 86 percent of park and trail visitors in one survey. There is a connection between time spent outside and mental health.
Amanda Hopsecker, who was raised living in the park in the village at Mammoth Hot Springs, explained the benefits she received. “I’ve witnessed thermal features go dormant and reactivate. I’ve walked paths and boardwalks that no longer exist because they’ve been overtaken by nature,” said Hopsecker. “Reflecting on the power of the earth can help me put my thinking and problems into perspective.”
“I loved walking in the forest and hearing the trees creak in the breeze,” she said. “It drew me in and captivated my attention like a wilderness orchestra. I would just close my eyes and smile while I listened to the sounds around me.”
The National Park Service website highlights some of the benefits of getting outdoors and enjoying “green exercise.”
For more information on Yellowstone’s remarkable wonders, please see the article “Yellowstone — Crucible of Water, Rock and Fire” on jw.org or take a virtual tour of Yellowstone and other national parks at nationalparks. org.
