The flora and fauna within America's national parks may receive protection, but the air above the parks is not immune from the problems that plague more developed parts of the country.
The list below, compiled by the Associated Press with data from the National Park Service and Environmental Protection Agency, ranks U.S. national parks that recorded the highest number of days with air violations and their highest smog levels in 2011.
California's Sequoia National Park garnered the top spot, with nearly a quarter of the year, or 87 days, recording dangerous smog levels.
According to AP, "the only way" to improve the park's air quality is to clean up the air throughout the entire San Joaquin air basin, "something that so far has proved elusive given the myriad sources of pollution." The National Park Conservation Association's Emily Schrepf said, "Ozone levels here are comparable to urban settings such as LA. It's just not right."
Two of the parks on the list below also made National Geographic's list of America's 10 best parks. Sequoia National Park came in first place on National Geographic's list as well, while Yosemite grabbed number eight.
List and data courtesy of AP, via the National Park Service and EPA.
