Taking a Look a t Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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Research Paper: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The area surrounding the Cuyahoga River is notorious for being extremely polluted and industrialized. An exception to this is Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This area has a rich history and has been used as a source of livelihood, industrialization, and recreation for centuries. This rural oasis takes up nearly thirty two square miles in northeastern Ohio and is the only National Park in the state. It became recognized as an official National Park in 2000 and before was known as the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. Cuyahoga Valley National Park preserves a rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River and serves as a contrast to the otherwise metropolitan setting.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park was formed the same way that most other valleys were. It is believed that long before the ice age occurred an ancient river carved through this area. This river left behind deposits that after millions of years transformed into the parks sandstone bedrock. As the ice age came into effect, this river froze and became part of a glacier that had an even bigger effect on the landscape of the valley. These glaciers scraped through northeastern Ohio and in the process left behind deposits that now make up the parks fertile soil (“Rock, Ice, and River”).
The American Indians that first called this area of northeastern Ohio have had an immense impact on it. Even the name of the river and consequentially the valley is a native word meaning "crooked river"(“Industrialization”). This name was given because the river has many twists and turns and flows north and south. The history of this park goes back as far as the ice age. The first people to roam this vast valley were known as Paleo Indians...

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...s cool all year round. Park goers have the opportunity to hike and climb around the ledges and explore the caverns (“Ritchie Ledges”). While the natural beauty of this park is the main attraction, the man made attractions should not be overlooked. The Ohio Erie Canal Towpath is the man made attraction that offers the most recreation to park goers. This trail follows the exact path of the historic Erie Canal. People have the ability to walk, run, cross country ski and bike on this trail (“Ohio Erie Canal Towpath”).
Cuyahoga Valley National Park preserves a rural landscape in an otherwise metropolitan area. This thirty two thousand acre national park is nestled between Clevelands suburbs and Akron and covers twenty two miles of the Cuyahoga River. This park gives people an opportunity to connect with the outdoors and enjoy the beautiful sights that come with it.

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