Natural Sounds &
Night Skies

For the more information about natural sounds and night skies in the National Park Service, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/sound_night/.

Natural soundscapes are essential for animal communication.

Cannon fire demonstration at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Sound Monitoring in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Even natural sounds such as lightning can be loud.

Many people visit National Parks to enjoy the soothing sounds of nature.

Quotes

Natural Sounds

Learn more about our Program by watching our video!

Elk bugling in the cool autumn air of Rocky Mountain National Park, waterfalls thundering in Yosemite Valley, cannons firing at Fort McHenry National Monument, the quiet hush among giant redwoods--these are the sounds that make visiting our national parks a unique experience.

Natural and cultural sounds awaken the sense of awe that connects us to the splendor of national parks and have a powerful effect on our emotions, attitudes, and memories. Who can forget the flash of adrenaline from the sound of looming whitewater or the lightning bolt that cracked just a little too close? The National Park Service regards these sounds as part of a web of natural and cultural resources that must be protected.

Like thunder rumbling in the distance, threats to natural and cultural soundscapes are increasingly difficult to ignore. From growing demands for park overflights and expanding energy development to greater numbers of park visitors, potential noise sources are proliferating. So too, however, are efforts to understand their effects and avert negative impacts.