Park, northwestern Italy.
Established in 1836 as a hunting zone, in 1856 it became the Royal Hunting Reserve of the Gran Paradiso, and in 1947 it received national park status. It covers an area of 153,240 acres (62,000 hectares) and extends along the upper Valle d'Aosta region; it contains the highest peak in the Graian Alps, Gran Paradiso, at 13,323 ft (4,061 m). The terrain is typically Alpine, with numerous glaciers and coniferous tree-lined slopes.