The Rocky Mountains National Park will benefit from a $3 million donation left by a Denver couple.

Edith London and her husband John left the money to the mountains after enjoying a lifetime of exploring.

The couple, who also photographed the mountains, met each other in Switzerland when Edith was in hospital and John was studying to be a car engineer.

Moving to America from Europe in 1951, Edith left the money to the association because they had no children.

The money could go to promoting and organising activities in the mountains such as those at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center in the National Park.

Programmes allow visitors to the park to learn about animals such as the Wily Coyote as well as exploring the effects of climate change on the environment in the national park.

According to Rocky Mountain News, Mrs London died in April 2007 aged 89.