What was the first national park established anywhere in the world?

Yellowstone National Park was the first national park established anywhere in the world. The United States created it on March 1, 1872, to protect its remarkable geothermal landscapes, wildlife, and scenery for public enjoyment.

Yellowstone lies mainly in Wyoming, with smaller sections in Montana and Idaho. It occupies the Yellowstone Caldera, one of the world’s largest active volcanic systems, and contains thousands of geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. Old Faithful is its best-known geyser, although it is not the park’s largest or most predictable geothermal feature.

The national-park idea later spread internationally. Canada created Banff National Park in 1885, and Australia established Royal National Park in 1879, but Yellowstone remains the first site officially designated a national park. Its creation helped establish a model for protecting landscapes through public institutions.