The Joshua Tree National Park is one of the many natural parks that you can visit in the state of California. Located on the southeastern tip of the state, the Joshua Tree National Park is situated near some of the busiest and most cosmopolitan cities in California. It had been classified as a National Monument of the United States since 1936. In 1994, the park was declared as a U. S. National Park as a result of the passing of the California Desert Protection Act. Joshua Tree National Park spans a total land area of 1,234 square miles, or 3,196 square kilometers. One of the unique features of the park is the diverse ecosystem visitors can explore here. Unlike most of the national parks that can be found in the state of California, the Joshua Tree National Park is primarily comprised of desert. In fact, two deserts make up the entire park. The southern and eastern parts of the park is made up of a portion of the Colorado Desert, while the northern side of the park takes up part of the Mojave Desert. As such, visitors to the Joshua Tree National Park are treated to a rich diversity of desert plant and animal life, making it a favorite destination for school field trips. There are a number of different activities you can enjoy at the park whether you merely plan to stay for only a few hours or a few days. The park offers a number of different trails that are great for hiking and biking. For the more adventurous travelers, there are a number of different sites where you can go rock climbing and conquer different rock formations that can be found all over the park.