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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) Yellowstone National Park has set a record for annual visitation with two months still to count this year.

The park recorded 3,267,683 visitors from January through October this year. That exceeds the previous 12-month record of 3.15 million visitors set in 2007.

The annual record was set even though October visitation was hurt by cold, wet weather. October's numbers were down by 15 percent from October 2008.

Park officials say they believe the record visitation can be attributed at least in part to the great value national parks offer and to lower fuel prices this past summer.



On the Net: Yellowstone National Park: http://www.nps.gov/yell.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-04-09 1434CST | save this article / add to your favorites list