As voted by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.
1. TONGARIRO N.P., New Zealand. This North Island site features volcanic peaks (one of which is active) and is home to many Maoris, who donated the park to New Zealand in 1887.
2. KAKADU N.P., Northern Territory, Australia. Jointly managed by Aborigines and the Australian government, it has great waterfalls, stunning displays of Aboriginal rock art and the home of the estuarine crocodile.
3. SNOWDONIA N.P., Wales, Great Britain. Snowdonia is a lovely mountain park, with Mount Snowdon, which is made of slate, rising to 3,560 feet.
4. KRUGER N.P., South Africa. This is perhaps the most impressive wildlife viewing area in the world. It is one of the few places where wildlife is in charge: It wanders free, and the visitors are controlled.
5. TIKAL N.P., Guatemala. Spectacular ruins of a Maya settlement from around A.D. 250-900. The ruins of temples, one 230 feet tall, rising from the jungle are mute testimony to the architectural genius of the Maya.
6. IGUAZU N.P., Argentina. This park protects one of the more spectacular natural landscapes in Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls and the surrounding subtropical forest. The falls are 230 feet high and 4,921 feet wide.
7. SAGARMANTHA N.P., Nepal. The park includes Mount Everest, among other prominent mountains. It has distinctive wildlife and small picturesque Sherpa villages with their gumpas (monasteries).
8. MADAIN SALEY NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, Saudi Arabia. This region, the Biblical Midian, is undulating desert, with huge rocky outcrops and lush oases.
9. PLITVICE LAKES N.P., Croatia. In inland Croatia, about halfway between Zagreb and Split, this moderately mountainous park features water — small lakes and streams and beautiful waterfalls everywhere.
10. HORTOBAGY N.P., Hungary. Located on the “puszta,” or great Hungarian plains, this was the country’s first national park.
