DES MOINES — Visitors to national parks in Iowa spent $11.5 million and supported 176 jobs in the state in 2012, according to a new report issued by the National Park Service’s Omaha office.

Michael Reynolds, NPS Midwest regional director, said 207,352 people visited Iowa’s national parks — Effigy Mounds National Monument at Harpers Ferry and the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site at West Branch.

“The national parks of Iowa attract visitors from across the country and around the world, and provide premiere historical, cultural, natural and recreational experiences,” Reynolds said.

“This new report shows that national park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy — returning $10 for every $1 invested — and funding generated by national parks has a swift and direct positive impact on local economies in Iowa as well,” he added.

— Mason City Globe Gazette