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Australia

National parks worldwide

Visiting national parks at home or in other countries is a great way to see the best nature has to offer. Here are a few of the world's most inspiring national parks:

Eagle Valley National Park

Eagle Valley is located in Mongolia, in the South Gobi Desert among the peaks of the Gurvansaikhan Mountains. Among the sights are wild camels, the world's biggest wild sheep and a collection of fossilized dinosaur eggs excavated from the area and now on display in the park's museum. An intriguing sight in the desert surroundings is Eagle Valley's ice-covered stream, sheltered in a narrow canyon so it is always covered by a layer of ice, even on the hottest day of the year.

Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero is perhaps the Caribbean's best place for watching the rare and endangered green sea turtle and hawksbill turtle in their natural habitat. On the beach, visitors can watch turtles nest and lay eggs. But the best way to view the park is by boat, traveling through a maze of channels to see otters, monkeys and sometimes manatees. The park can be found some 50 miles northwest of Limon—that's Limon in Costa Rica, naturally, not Colorado.

Kakadu National Park

Australian Aboriginal culture, diverse wildlife and breathtaking natural scenery—Kakadu has it all. Roughly 160 miles east of Darwin, this national park's 7,500 square miles are like a cross-section of Australia itself. Towering rock escarpments such as Ubirr and Nourlangie Rocks are covered in ancient rock art. Depending on the season, wildlife includes wallabies, dingoes, goannas and crocodiles.

Banff National Park

High in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is the very essence of a nature reserve-stunning mountain scenery, glistening Lake Louise and plenty of wildlife. From scenic raft rides to helicopter and gondola rides, or just walking among flower-filled meadows, this World Heritage site is an outdoor enthusiast's playground. For more information on available tours and independent travel to these parks and many others, see your travel agent.