It’s pleasant to lie on the grass and munch on something tasty. However, this opportunity is not available to everyone and not everywhere. While in rural areas there are no problems with finding both tasty treats and places to enjoy them, urban dwellers often find it quite challenging to locate fresh greenery. However, some cities encourage their residents’ desire for greenery. Where can you lie on a green slope? Let’s explore the top largest parks in the world.
1 Losiny Ostrov Park (Moscow) – 116 sq.km.
This park is so vast that it spans the city of Moscow and several towns in the Moscow region. The park lives up to its name, which means “Elk Island” in English: indeed, elks inhabit the area, along with many other species of large and small animals.
2 South Mountain Park (Phoenix, USA) – 66 sq.km.
The mountainous area south of downtown Phoenix represents the stunning natural beauty of Arizona, with numerous unique creatures, predominantly reptiles. The highest observation point offers a magnificent view of the city.
3 Bitsevsky Forest (Moscow) – 22 sq.km.
The park is not only a place for relaxation and entertainment for Moscow residents, home to numerous insects, birds, and animals, but also a site with a rich history. The Vyatichi people lived here long ago, leaving traces of their presence, ancient settlements, and burial mounds.
4 Pelham Bay Park (New York) – 11 sq.km.
Pelham Bay Park is at least three times larger than the famous Central Park in New York and much more diverse. It features New York’s main beach, huge golf fields, as well as biological and geological reserves with unique rock formations.
5 Fairmount Park (Philadelphia, USA) – 8 sq.km.
Throughout its history, Fairmount Park has grown and expanded. Established in 1812, by 2010 it had absorbed a total of 200 city parks in Philadelphia. It also houses the first zoo opened in America.
6 Santiago Metropolitan Park (Santiago, Chile) – 7.2 sq.km.
Formally, the park’s area is much larger—15 sq.km—since it includes thirteen city parks scattered throughout the city. It features one of the most impressive cable cars in the world, stretching 500 meters, leading to the top of San Cristóbal Hill.
7 Staten Island Greenbelt (New York) – 7.2 sq.km.
The Staten Island Greenbelt, the second-largest city park in New York, includes several park areas around Staten Island Bay. Not all areas are accessible: approximately one-sixth of the park consists of swamps, and parts of it are mountainous and difficult to traverse. It also contains ancient Native American settlements, which are now protected areas.
8 Phoenix Park (Dublin, Ireland) – 7 sq.km.
One of the oldest parklands in Europe, Phoenix Park was established in 1662. Notably, the park is surrounded by an 11-kilometer wall, within which a herd of deer lives alongside smaller animals, birds, and other creatures. It is also a place of entertainment with a zoo, cricket club, concert hall, rallies, monuments, and even a castle.
9 Chapultepec (Mexico City) – 6.5 sq.km.
An ancient site in Mexico City that was once the residence of the Aztec emperor, with a rich history. The green paths lead to ancient structures and museums, and you can see many rare birds in the sky, for whom the park serves as a sanctuary during seasonal migration.
10 Kings Park (Perth, Australia) – 4 sq.km.
Two-thirds of the park consist of natural Australian bush, and it’s right next to the city’s business district! It’s no surprise that natural beauty isn’t the only feature here. Kings Park offers a wide range of tourist attractions as well as a large memorial complex.
