10 of the world’s most beautiful new nature reserves | CNN

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10 of the world’s most beautiful new nature reserves

By Mark Johanson, for CNN
Published 9:56 PM EDT, Mon July 20, 2015
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Pinnacle National Park's 32 miles of trail are filled with bizarre rock spires and charming wildflowers, which are pollinated by 400 species of bees.
Pinnacles National Park (United States) —
Pinnacle National Park's 32 miles of trail are filled with bizarre rock spires and charming wildflowers, which are pollinated by 400 species of bees.
Courtesy NPS Photo
More than a decade in the making, Patagonia Park recently opened to the public as a "private park in progress." This 660,000-acre reserve is on its way to becoming one of the largest new national parks of the 21st century, featuring reinvigorated populations of pumas, condors and endangered huemul deer.
Patagonia Park (Chile) —
More than a decade in the making, Patagonia Park recently opened to the public as a "private park in progress." This 660,000-acre reserve is on its way to becoming one of the largest new national parks of the 21st century, featuring reinvigorated populations of pumas, condors and endangered huemul deer.
Courtesy Linde Waidhofer
Twice the size of Texas, the Pacific Remote Islands is the largest marine reserve in the world. It's said to hold a large number of undersea mountains with corals that provide a habitat for underwater life like tuna, turtles, manta ray and sharks.
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument —
Twice the size of Texas, the Pacific Remote Islands is the largest marine reserve in the world. It's said to hold a large number of undersea mountains with corals that provide a habitat for underwater life like tuna, turtles, manta ray and sharks.
Courtesy NOAA, PIFSC, CRED
The Afghanistan government set up the Wakhan National Park to protect not only the landscape and its population of rare snow leopards, but also the traditional way of life practiced by the Wakhi and Kyrgyz communities within its borders.
Wakhan National Park (Afghanistan) —
The Afghanistan government set up the Wakhan National Park to protect not only the landscape and its population of rare snow leopards, but also the traditional way of life practiced by the Wakhi and Kyrgyz communities within its borders.
Courtesy WCS-Afghanistan
Sable Island National Reserve is home to six permanent residents and more than 500 free-roaming Sable Island Horses. Its shores welcome more than 50,000 gray seals.
Sable Island National Reserve (Canada) —
Sable Island National Reserve is home to six permanent residents and more than 500 free-roaming Sable Island Horses. Its shores welcome more than 50,000 gray seals.
Courtesy Parks Canada/P. Illsley
The goal of the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve is to protect the wealth of the ocean from illegal fishing activities and safeguard endemic species like butterfly fish and squirrelfish, among others.
Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve (British Overseas Territory) —
The goal of the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve is to protect the wealth of the ocean from illegal fishing activities and safeguard endemic species like butterfly fish and squirrelfish, among others.
Enric Sala/National Geographic
The new Kimberley National Park will become the biggest national park in Australia. The once off-limits Mitchell Plateau is expected to be the jewel in the crown this reserve, with significant biological diversity and spectacular gorges dotted with waterfalls.
Kimberley National Park (Australia) —
The new Kimberley National Park will become the biggest national park in Australia. The once off-limits Mitchell Plateau is expected to be the jewel in the crown this reserve, with significant biological diversity and spectacular gorges dotted with waterfalls.
Courtesy Parks and Wildlife
Lusaka National Park is an important watershed area for the Chalimbana river system and is now home to 22 different species of wild animals, including impala, nyala, kudu, zebra, giraffe and white rhino.
Lusaka National Park (Zambia) —
Lusaka National Park is an important watershed area for the Chalimbana river system and is now home to 22 different species of wild animals, including impala, nyala, kudu, zebra, giraffe and white rhino.
Courtesy Zambiatourism.com
The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park is Europe's newest national park. It's home to black storks and one of the largest wild forest cat populations in Europe. Visitors can hike one of the many routes to see the park's flora and fauna.
Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park (Germany) —
The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park is Europe's newest national park. It's home to black storks and one of the largest wild forest cat populations in Europe. Visitors can hike one of the many routes to see the park's flora and fauna.
Courtesy Gerhard Haensel/ Hunsrueck-Touristik GmbH
El Impenetrable National Park's 300,000 acres of land provide protection for endangered species like jaguars, giant armadillos and crowned solitary eagles.
El Impenetrable National Park (Argentina) —
El Impenetrable National Park's 300,000 acres of land provide protection for endangered species like jaguars, giant armadillos and crowned solitary eagles.
Courtesy Veronica Quiroga

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