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The beauty of America's protected wilderness areas, such as the Absaroka Wilderness Area in Montana pictured here, is hard to beat. Its ecological importance can't be overstated. The Absaroka Wilderness, abutting the north boundary of Yellowstone National Park, is home to grizzly bears, wolves, and wolverines and is one of the last places these animals still roam free in the continental US. Mining, logging, and road building are prohibited in protected wilderness areas, which guarantees they'll be there for future generations to appreciate just as Lewis and Clark did 200 years ago.

Protected wilderness areas provide islands of refuge for native plants and animals. They provide hikers, campers, hunters and fishermen with world class recreation opportunities. They also provide numerous American towns and cities with clean drinking water from unspoiled rivers and streams.