Articles

National Parks will once again offer free admission on Veterans Day, November 11th.

When was the last time you listened to the true sounds of silence? Not the absence of all noise, but the tune of Mother Nature in her purest commune with the earth? If you think that all sounds a bit hippy dippy, think again. In modern life we are constantly assaulted by unnatural noises and according to Gordon Hempton, who is known as the Sound Tracker for his efforts to record and preserve natural sounds, we are losing the ability to listen to nature.

Since 1972, UNESCO has annually declared World Heritage Sites to identify and preserve humankind's most significant natural, historic and cultural attractions. The 890 designated spots (to date) met rigorous selection criteria assessed by international judging panels, a process even more complex than Olympic bids.