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Wilderness is also the name of a city in South Africa

Wilderness is also the name of a Canadian band.

Wilderness is land that has not been significantly modified by direct or indirect human activity. Biosphere scientists and landscape ecologists consider wilderness areas to be an integral part of the self-sustaining natural system of the Earth.

For most of human history, the greater part of the Earth's terrain was wilderness, and attention was focused on the settled areas. During the 19th century, it became clear that in many countries, wild areas either had disappeared or were in danger of disappearing, which gave rise to the conservation movement (beginning partly through the efforts of writers and activists like John Burroughs and John Muir, and also those of U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt).

However, as awareness of the ecological need for wilderness areas has grown, so have the needs of mankind and the perceived need for development.

The creation of national parks, beginning in the 19th century, was sufficient to preserve some especially attractive or notable areas for recreation, but the pursuits of commerce and recreation resulted in continued development of previously untouched areas. In the 20th century the concept of wilderness areas was formally defined, and areas were set aside in which human modifications are highly restricted.

A vast area of northern Canada has very few people. For example, there are no roads for miles surrounding the Four Corners of Canada. However, the mere presence or activity of people does not disqualify an area from wilderness status, as many areas have historically been inhabited or influenced by the activity of people.

Making wilderness environments accessible for disabled individuals was initiated in 1986 in USA. A nonpofit organization adopted such a mission and constructed a model wilderness-access facility in Colorado, USA. It includes a mile-long boardwalk through a pristine area on the continental divide of North America [1].

See also

• Biosphere
• Park ranger
• Adventure tourism
• Hiking
• Wilderness Act
• Aldo Leopold
• Gary Snyder
• Ernest Callenbach

External links

• U.S. - The Wilderness Act of 1964
• Wilderness Survival Guides
• Tom Brown's Tracking, Nature and Wilderness Survival School
• Survive Outdoors
• Camping articles, information, recipes, and safety tips
• Montana Wilderness Association

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