Yellowstone National Park, which was hit by devastating floods last week, partially reopened on Wednesday, with long lines forming at the US landmark’s entrances before sunrise.
Hundreds of visitors in cars, RVs and trucks waited to get into the oldest national park in the United States, where torrential rain and rapid snowmelt have swept away roads and bridges.
Thousands were ordered to leave the park and dozens of people had to be airlifted to safety after mudslides and falling rocks destroyed roads in the northern part of the park.
The National Park Service, the government agency that operates Yellowstone, said last week that parts of the park — home to Old Faithful geyser — would likely remain closed for the rest of the year.
On Wednesday, the southern portion of the park was open to visitors whose numbers were controlled by a number plate system that allows even numbers on even dates and odd numbers on odd dates.
“Unprecedented amounts of rainfall have caused significant flooding, rockfalls and mudslides in Yellowstone National Park,” the NPS said Wednesday.
“Historical water levels caused severe damage to roads, water and sewage systems, power lines and other critical park infrastructure.
“Visitors can now access Yellowstone’s South Loop via a rotating license plate system. The park’s Nordschleife will remain closed until further notice due to flood damage.”
Yellowstone Park welcomed more than 4.8 million visitors last year.
The park was the inspiration for Jellystone Park, home of popular cartoon favorite Yogi Bear – an affable but perpetually hungry character whose main occupations are stealing picnic baskets and outwitting a park ranger.
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