SYD KRONISH | Stamps 'World Heritage' to show U.S. parks

Every country has its share of beautiful national parks recognized for their unique scenery. To help conserve these sites, the United Nations declared that such locations be preserved and protected. They're called "World Heritage."
The United Nations Postal Administration has issued stamps in past years illustrating these magnificent sites. This year the UNPA has issued a set of six commemorative stamps and three Prestige Booklets dedicated to U.S. national parks titled "World Heritage USA." The release was Wednesday.
The three Prestige Booklets have a common design based on the six commemoratives and each contains 24 mint stamps. The booklets contain colorful photos and illustrations with detailed information about the World Heritage stamps.
The six stamps feature Yosemite National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Olympic National Park and Everglades National Park.
Yosemite, located in California's Sierra Nevada, embraces a spectacular tract of mountains and valleys. The park has a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows and forests that include groves of giant sequoia trees, the world's largest.
Natural beauties
Hawaii volcanoes were created when molten rock pushed through the Earth's crust. Over millions of years, eruptions built up these volcanoes. Two of the most active volcanoes in the world are Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
The Great Smoky Mountains are located in North Carolina and Tennessee. The forest there exudes water vapor and oily residues that create a smokelike haze that surrounds the entire area. The diversity of mountains makes this a superlative preserve.
Yellowstone is a vast natural forest in Wyoming. It was declared a national park in 1872, making it the first national park anywhere in the world. Its hot springs, geysers and river canyons make it a place of unrivaled beauty.
Olympic is located in the northwest corner of Washington state. It is dominated by Mount Olympus which gives the park its name. The 1,400 square miles of the park encompass not only snowcapped Mount Olympus but many glaciers as well.
Everglades is a fragile ecosystem covering 1.4 million acres in southern Florida. The variety of water habitats has made it a sanctuary for a number of birds and reptiles as well as threatened species, such as manatees.
The U.S Postal Service is also featuring these stamps and the Prestige Booklets in its own catalog to provide collectors the opportunity to obtain this special UN issue.
The World Heritage USA stamps and the booklets are available from the UNPA by calling (800) 234-8672 or writing to United Nations Postal Administration, PO Box 5900, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-5900.