Which National Park Service park was the first created specifically to protect a fragile ecosystem?

Everglades National Park was the first U.S. national park created specifically to protect a fragile ecosystem.

Unlike earlier parks that were usually established around spectacular scenery or individual natural landmarks, Everglades was intended to preserve an interconnected wetland system. Congress authorized the park in 1934, and it was formally dedicated in 1947.

The park protects the southern portion of the Everglades, a shallow wetland sometimes described as a slow-moving “river of grass.” Its habitats include sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, and tropical hardwood hammocks.

Everglades National Park is also important for wildlife conservation. It provides habitat for the American crocodile, West Indian manatee, Florida panther, and hundreds of bird species. It is often confused with Big Cypress National Preserve, a separate neighboring National Park Service unit.