From the cascading waterfalls of Yosemite to the unique geothermal features of Yellowstone, the U.S. national parks are among the most breathtaking destinations in the world. Founded to preserve the nation’s heritage and historic landscapes for posterity, the national parks represent one of America’s crowning achievements and internationally significant treasures.

The National Parks: An American Legacy tells the story of the parks through the photography of Ian Shive, today’s leading photographer of our national parks and their surrounding significant landscapes, as well as through poignant essays by conservancy groups from across the country.

With more than 200 glorious images of the nation’s parks, this book celebrates everything from the snowy vistas of Denali in Alaska to the lava flows in Hawaii’s Volcano National Park-as well as Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and hundreds more, from sea to shining sea. Comprehensive, stunningly beautiful, and always inspiring, The National Parks: An American Legacy reveals the way humankind interacts with the parks, and how the story of the national parks is also a tribute to the people who visit, explore, and tirelessly work to preserve these cherished American landscapes.