Into the Wild – National Parks in Canada and the Unites States

A painter is credited with the idea of creating a national park: As early as 1832, George Catlin proposed the preservation of the Great Plains in the west of the country, as a »magnificent park« for people and animals »in their pristine beauty and wildness«. With

the support of other artists, philosophers and nature lovers, the idea of protection gained currency and led to the establishment of the Yellowstone National Park in 1872. There followed almost 100 such parks in Canada and the United States until today, all aiming to grant an undisturbed space to the beauty of nature.