President Obama added 3 new California National Monuments to the roster over Presidents Weekend which, all told, add 1.8 million acres of protected land to the system. The new Monuments; Mojave Trails National Monument, Sand to Snow National Monument, and Castle Mountains National Monument are located in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in the sprawling Sonoran and Mojave deserts connecting the Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino National Forest, and fifteen wilderness areas previously designated by Congress, creating a series of protected lands stretching hundreds of miles.
We’re often asked what differentiates a Park from a Monument from a Historic Site? The answer is a little blurry but the easiest way to think of it, albeit not always completely accurate, is National Parks protect vast areas of scenic beauty, National Monuments preserve areas of cultural history, and Historic Sites are well, historic sites.
This takes the count of National Monuments designated by President Obama to 22 – over 265 million acres of public lands and waters – more than any other President – which will provide sanctuary for man, flora, and fauna for enjoyment and research now and into the future – securing pieces of the tapestry that make up America.
Be forever Wandering But Not Lost ~ Get Out and Find Your Park!
map courtesy of The Press Enterprise