Peak District National Park celebrates 63rd birthday (and its stunning views) with a Google Doodle

 

Luke Howard
Thursday 17 April 2014 03:01 BST
Comments
Google Doodle celebrates the 63rd anniversary of the Peak District National Park
Google Doodle celebrates the 63rd anniversary of the Peak District National Park

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Google's latest Doodle marks the 63rd anniversary of the Peak District's designation as Britain's first national park.

The colourful drawing is dominated by a sun rising behind one of the area's unusually shaped gritstone tors, the Salt Cellar, formed by wind, rain and frost erosion over many centuries - the sun replacing the second 'O' in the word Google. To the right of the scene depicting the area's rolling landscape, two distant walkers are beginning a climb.

The Peak District lies mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also reaches in to the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire, covering 555 square miles. It is usually divided into two distinct parts: the moorland plateau of the gritstone Dark Peak and the limestone White Peak.

In 1949 the government passed the National Parks Act, designed to preserve and enhance the beauty of the countryside, while also making it accessible to the public. This began with the creation of the Peak District National Park on 17 April 1951 and was swiftly followed by the Lake District, Snowdonia, Dartmoor, Pembrokeshire Coast, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor, Northumberland and Brecon Beacons National Parks by the end of the decade.

There are now 15 National Parks across Britain.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in