The Zion National Park ( in English : Zion National Park) is a U.S. National Park located in the southwest of the state of Utah in the United States.

Covering an area of ​​593 km2 , the park is famous for its deep canyons carved by the Virgin River and its tributaries in elderly colored rocks tens of millions of years. It consists of low desert areas of riparian areas at the bottom of canyons and wooded mountaintop areas. The wildlife park is rich in 78 species of mammals, 291 species of birds, 44 species of reptiles and amphibians and eight species of fish. Over 900 plant species are present in the park ranging from cactus in desert areas to coniferous forests in mountainous areas .

Human habitation of the region dates back thousands of years when nomadic paléoaméricains roam the area in search of food. The area was later inhabited by pre-Columbian peoples . These sedentary farmers , the Anasazi and Fremont , inhabit the region between the fifth century and the twelfth century. These cultures then disappear after long periods of drought and are replaced by nomads, Paiutes Indians who limit their activities to the hunting and gathering again. The first European explorers reach the southwestern Utah in the late eighteenth century and early settlers , Mormons , settled there in the middle of the nineteenth century.

Created July 31, 1909 as National Monument Mukuntuweap ( Mukuntuweap National Monument ), it becomes national park 19 November 1919 . It is renamed " Zion ," a former Hebrew word for " refuge " or " sanctuary." Since then, the National Park Service is responsible for the protection of natural and cultural resources of the park annually hosts more than two million visitors.

(from : http://fr.wikipedia.org)