The landscape is some of America's
most beautiful, yet the acts of a mindless few have now spoiled the
enjoyment for everyone else.
Acts of graffiti have become so common at the Joshua Tree National Park's most popular hiking spots that officials have had to close them to the public, and they blame the big bump in vandalism on social media.
Rangers said they've found graffiti spray painted on 17 sites, including the famous rock formations and historic Native American sites, at the Southern California park's Rattlesnake Canyon.
They put historic Barker Dam off limits after vandals carved their names into the cement of the Old West landmark.
National Parks officials said the graffiti started with just a few markings, but quickly spread. They blame vandals who posted pictures of their handiwork on social media sites such as Facebook, which enticed others to the same spot and leave their own illicit marks.
'I've worked at six national parks, and this is the most extensive I've seen in 20 years', ranger Pat Pilcher told reporters this week during a tour of some of the damage.
For visitors who cherish the isolation of this harsh desert terrain about 140 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the graffiti are an unwelcome reminder of city blight.
'You kind of feel like you're
alone. In ancient times. There's nothing like this place,' Butch Wood,
51, a visitor from North Aurora, Ilinois. Told the Los Angeles Times. 'You don't like to see the modern world intruding on history. It's a shame.'
Mr Pilcher said park service law enforcement officers are investigating the vandalism. If caught and convicted, vandals could face up to $5,000 in fines and six months in jail. He said the penalty could be stiffer for those convicted of defacing a historic Native American site.
Meanwhile, the San Bernardino County Sun reports that officials are closing 308 acres of the canyon until April 30 while volunteers from the Urban School of San Francisco help scrub the graffiti off the giant granite boulders
Acts of graffiti have become so common at the Joshua Tree National Park's most popular hiking spots that officials have had to close them to the public, and they blame the big bump in vandalism on social media.
Rangers said they've found graffiti spray painted on 17 sites, including the famous rock formations and historic Native American sites, at the Southern California park's Rattlesnake Canyon.
Nature interrupted: The Joshua Tree National
Park is one of the quietest places on the planet but its stillness is
interrupted by wanton acts of vandalism
Scenic: The national park is named after the
uniquely shaped Joshua Tree plant which are found in desert climates
such as in California
National Parks officials said the graffiti started with just a few markings, but quickly spread. They blame vandals who posted pictures of their handiwork on social media sites such as Facebook, which enticed others to the same spot and leave their own illicit marks.
'I've worked at six national parks, and this is the most extensive I've seen in 20 years', ranger Pat Pilcher told reporters this week during a tour of some of the damage.
For visitors who cherish the isolation of this harsh desert terrain about 140 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the graffiti are an unwelcome reminder of city blight.
California desert: Joshua Tree National Park is
located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in
1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act
Imitation: Park officials believe the increased
use of social media sites is encouraging copycat acts of graffiti
spraying with almost 2000 incidents last year
Markings: Marks have been left at Rattlesnake
Canyon and Barker Dam, a relic from the Old West created by cattle
drovers who established a watering hole along their trail
Mr Pilcher said park service law enforcement officers are investigating the vandalism. If caught and convicted, vandals could face up to $5,000 in fines and six months in jail. He said the penalty could be stiffer for those convicted of defacing a historic Native American site.
Meanwhile, the San Bernardino County Sun reports that officials are closing 308 acres of the canyon until April 30 while volunteers from the Urban School of San Francisco help scrub the graffiti off the giant granite boulders