Although national parks attract millions of visitors from near and far for their unique landscapes, they can also be a source of danger or even tragedy for visitors who underestimate the power of nature.
In Yellowstone, incidents occur regularly in which visitors come dangerously close to wildlife, either accidentally or ignoring the rule to stay at least 25 meters away, and are then mauled or gored. Parks located in the southern part of the country that can reach extreme temperatures, including Death Valley and the Grand Canyon, periodically warn about heat exposure that can lead to tragic results when travelers get lost or do not carry adequate water.
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Going to a national park for winter activities? Be aware of changing conditions
Since visitors often come for activities such as skiing and hiking in areas with equally extremely low temperatures, the winter period carries a number of dangers.
The personal injury law firm John Foy and Associates ranked national parks based on the number of deaths that occurred between November 1 and February 28 from 2007 to 2023; With an average of 12.19 deaths per year, California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks came in first. as the most dangerous place in the country to visit in winter.
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The grim statistic comes as a result of both the low temperatures (in some cases 0 degrees Fahrenheit or -17 Celsius) that the park can reach in winter, and the icy road and trail conditions that can lead to everything from car accidents. to Avalanches in which travelers are trapped.
“Whether you are skiing on a groomed trail in a developed area or venturing into the backcountry, remember that you are traveling in a natural environment with all its risks: unpredictable wildlife, changing weather conditions, deep snow and open streams,” said the National Park Service. (NPS) warns visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. “Have fun, but be prepared for any situation and know the limits of your ability.”
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National parks that come just behind Sequoia and Kings Canyon in the ranking include Mount Rainier in Washington state, with an average of 8.55 deaths, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area, with an average of 6.23. Both parks attract visitors interested in snow sports and other winter activities, but can reach extreme temperatures during the coldest times of the year.
These national parks have the highest accident rates in winter
Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada topped the list in a 2023 ranking looking incidents from 2014 to 2021 in which drowning in the reservoir of the same name was by far the most common cause of death. Other parks that make the top ten of John Foy and Associates' rankings for mortality rate include Death Valley and Grand Canyon, as well as Yosemite and Mojave in California and Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee.
“Winter storms and thunderstorms can arrive quickly,” the NPS writes of the latter park. “Hypothermia and lightning have claimed lives here. Rain can cause flash flooding many miles away, so even if skies are clear, be careful around stream beds and the Rio Grande during rain season.” rains”.
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