American Wonders Trivia Quiz

Answer: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

UNESCO will identify a site, the preservation and protection of that site will than be monitored by UNESCO. A World Heritage Site is unique in what it offers the world. This uniqueness can be cultural, natural or even both. "World Heritage sites belong to all the people of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located." As of the summer of 2007, there were 851 sites worldwide, 660 of these are cultural, 166 are natural and the last 25 are mixed.

In the United States, there are 20 of these sites.

Answer: 1981

The name of this site, while looking at the list of World Heritage Sites in the United States, caught my imagination. Obviously there are not mammoth wandering around the park, but there ate over twenty endangered species making their homes in this park. Along with the endangered animals there are several species of animals, reptiles, birds and fish living in the lakes and forest.

The forest is largely "second growth" however there is a small patch that is referred to as "Big Woods". The area has the nickname "Big Woods" because it is a very rare, undisturbed strand of old trees.

Another impressive Kentucky landmark is found in this park: the caves. The cave system formed millions of years ago as the water pushed its way through the lime stones.

In 1941, Mammoth Cave National Park had laws established to protect as well as preserve the caves. If you were to measure the world's second and third longest cave then add those two figures together, they would still be shorted than the Mammoth Cave. Underneath the Earth's surface, within the caves, is a completely unique and different world.

In this environment there are unusual and rare species, underground rivers, as well as beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. In my opinion, this place in its beauty and in its rarity should be considered a world wonder.

Answer: François Paul Jules Grévy (January 30, 1879 to December 2,1887)

The Statue of Liberty was delivered to the United States by the ship Isere. She arrived in time for the dedication ceremony on October 28, 1886. The United States built the pedestal for her on Bedloe's Island (later renamed Liberty Island), so she was the first thing that most immigrants saw when coming to New York.

The Statue of Liberty has portrayed and stood for many things such as, "international friendship", "escape from oppression", as well as "democracy and freedom". She was fashioned after the Roman goddess Libertas who is the "goddess of freedom from slavery, oppression and tyranny." In 1984, the Statue of Liberty became a World Heritage Site; she had already been a national monument since 1924.

More recently, there was $87 million spent on restoration for her centennial birthday. Also in 2007, she was in the top twenty finalists for the "New Seven Wonders of the World", although she failed to make the final seven. Lady Liberty is one of the most instantly recognized symbols/statues worldwide.

Answer: Grey Wolf

The name Yellowstone originally came from the French trappers who would visit the area. These trappers referred to the area as "Roche Jaune" and so it became Yellowstone. Yellowstone was officially recognized as a national park on March 1, 1872, making it the first national park ever.

In 1978, Yellowstone became a World Heritage Site. The boundaries of Yellowstone touch on three states, the most being in Wyoming, but three percent of the park is in Montana and only one percent in Idaho. On the North Entrance to Yellowstone, built in 1903, you will find the famous Roosevelt Arch. During the planning of the dedication ceremony for this Arch, by lucky coincidence, it came to the attention of the park officials that President Roosevelt was vacationing there. So on April 24, 1903, President Roosevelt attended the dedication and he took part in the ceremony. President Roosevelt was given the honor of "laying the cornerstone" for the Arch.

There are many awe inspiring natural wonders in Yellowstone National Park.

The most obvious being "Old Faithful", one of the most popular geysers in the world. "Old Faithful" may be one of the most well known geysers, but the park contains several more geysers as well as several hot springs, estimated at more than 300. The history, the wildlife, the natural phenomenon of the park is difficult to sum up in a few words.

Answer: This park contains what are considered to be two of the world's most active volcanoes.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was made a World Heritage Site in 1987. The two main volcanoes here are Kilauea and Mauna Loa; these two volcanoes are responsible for most of the changes in the landscape for the last several million years. The World Heritage Site measures Mauna Loa at 4,170 metres high and the second volcano Kilauea at 1,250 metres high. Both volcanoes are classed as "shield volcanoes", both also directly above "a fixed hot spot deep beneath the surface". So far only 40 to 50 of these "hot spots" have been located by geologists throughout the world. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park provides a home for a variety of wildlife. Several of these are endangered species and they depend on this unique ecosystem for their survival, and sadly not all have survived.

Some of the survivors are the Hawaiian Dark-rumped Petrels, Hawksbill Turtle as well as several others. Hawaii (not just the park) provides shelter and protection for "25% of all the endangered plants and birds in the United States." Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is vigilant in their efforts to protect these species, so when visiting be sure to familiarize and follow all the rules.

Answer: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency

The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1982. This site is on the Mississippi River ans is considered one of the largest of its kind in the United States and Canada. One of the earliest dated inhabitants to this Pre-Columbian civilization dates back as early as 700AD. Around 1050AD, this area became a center to its civilization.

Many villages would have built up around and in support of the "regional center". There is some evidence that suggests that at the peak of the success of this civilization, these people would have covered 4,000 acres with a population estimated at around 20 thousand.

There are many historic, cultural artifacts left by these people to have survived. One of the most famous mounds, is Mound 72. Within Mound 72 roughly 300 graves have been found. Most of the mounds were not used for sacrificial burials. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site sees, on average, 380,000 tourists a year, people who wish to study and admire a past era.

Answer: Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Great Smoky Mountain National Park was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1983. There are 520,976 acres of land that belong to the park, about 95 percent of the land is forested and roughly a quarter of that is old growth. Throughout this, there is over 800 miles of trails available to hikers, as long as they follow the park rules. Great Smoky Mountain National Park is also a Biosphere Reserve, which is largely a volunteer program. Basically this program tries to ensure that man does not pollute the environment. Part of this environment consists of a deciduous forest of old growth, perhaps one of the largest of its kind in North America.

The ecosystem here has over 4,000 different types of plants and only 130 of those were native to the area. Great Smoky Mountain National Park provides a home for a variety of wildlife, most predominant are the bears. Elk once were native to the area, and at one time roamed freely. Since their numbers died out, park officials did decide to try to re-introduce them back into the ecosystem.

This program is being closely monitored with plans to stop the program if problems turn up. Great Smoky Mountain National Park contains many historic buildings, preserved sites as well as many natural wonders.

Answer: It is a community that has had people living and making their homes there for over 1,000 years.

In 1992, Pueblo de Taos became a World Heritage site, and was also made a national landmark in 1960. Pueblo de Taos is the first site to hold both of these titles. Today's layout of Pueblo do Taos is pretty much the same as it has always been. The town is fashioned in a square and the abode structures are several stories high. One of the adobe buildings was built around 1000 to 1450AD, and is a multi-story family structure.

The town/village is surrounded by walls that have held throughout time and battles. Today there are roughly 150 people living in the town.

Their lives are very similar to their ancestor's lives. They follow the same traditions that have defined their culture for generations. The Pueblo people were/are "hunter, farmer, gather," this culture also produced many artisans whose skills may have been used to document periods of their history. Most of the traditions and folklore have been passed down, generation to generation.

In today's society, the Pueblo have managed to preserve and live their ancient heritage.

Answer: Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon has been described as one of the most spectacular places on Earth. Worldwide, it is one of the most known places, so it is not surprising that it is generally considered the first pick for most tourists visiting World Heritage sites. Annually, the Grand Canyon receives over five million visitors. Several of these visitors wish to take the trail to the bottom. Once on the bottom they are standing on rocks that are two billion years old, about half the age of the Earth.

The walls of the canyon, the "geologic strata" that is visible, is considered one of the most complete records of the Earth's history.

Some of these layers are from the Paleozoic Era (550 to 250 million years ago) and at another layer there are Pre-Cambrian rocks (2,000 million years ago).

There is also evidence of many past cultures, and though some erosion has occurred some pictographs can still be seen on the Canyon walls. The Grand Canyon National Park became a world Heritage Site in 1979, officially gaining worldwide recognition for the natural beauty and richness of this place.

Answer: All of these

In 1932, Waterton National Park in Canada joined with Glacier National Park in the United States, to form the world's first peace park. Waterton consists of 526 square kilometers in Alberta and Glacier is 4,051 square kilometers in Montana. The Rotary Club first suggested the joining of the two parks, calling them a "international peace park", a symbol of friendship between two countries. Canada and the United States share the responsibility for management of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, and recently the Blackfoot Confederacy joined in the management. Between the two parks there is virtually no change in the landscape.

The landscape was formed millions of years ago by glaciers and some glaciers still remain, although they are receding.