Originally established in 1909 as Mukuntuwean National Monument, Zion National Park in Utah was expanded and designated a national park in 1919.
Now encompassing more than 229 square miles, Zion National Park is characterized by high plateaus and mesas with deep sandstone canyons carved into towering cliffs. Bare expanses of sandstone reveal artifacts and layers of rock that showcase the park’s geological history. Diverse environments within the park include deserts, canyons, slickrock, hanging gardens, and plateaus.
Zion Canyon, one of the park’s largest and most visited sites rises more than 2,000 feet above the canyon floor. One hundred sixty miles of rivers, streams, and waterfalls support a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life, including more than 270 species of birds. One hundred twenty miles of hiking trails are available to the approximately 2.5 million people who visit the park annually.
To celebrate National Park Week, we’re holding a daily contest here on the blog centered around our love of national parks. Each day’s single winner will receive a set of the Scenic American Landscapes stamped cards, which showcase photographs from parks across the country.
To enter the contest for today, simply answer the following question:
What was Mission 66?
Submit your answer to uspsstamps [at] gmail [dot] com and remember, spelling counts! The winner will be selected at random and notified by email. Deadline for entries is 12 p.m. EST on Friday, April 27. Good luck!
USPS Stamp of Approval 