List of National Natural Landmarks in Wisconsin

The National Natural Landmarks (NNLs) in Wisconsin include 18 of the almost 600 such landmarks in the United States.[1] They cover areas of geological, biological and historical importance, and include dune and swales, swamps, bogs, and virgin forests.[1] Several of the sites provide habitat for rare or endangered plant and animal species. The Driftless Area in southwest Wisconsin is known for its rare species, especially in the Baraboo Range.[1] Owners include private individuals, Native American tribes, and several county, state and federal agencies.[1] These landmarks were designed between 1967 and 1987.[1] They vary in size between 44 to 53531 acres (18 to 21663 hectares).[1]

The National Natural Landmarks Program is administered by the National Park Service, a branch of the Department of the Interior. The National Park Service determines which properties meet NNL criteria and, after notifying the owners, makes nomination recommendations. The Secretary of the Interior reviews nominations and, based on a set of predetermined criteria, makes a decision on NNL designation or a determination of eligibility for designation. Both public and privately owned properties can be designated as NNLs. Owners may object to the nomination of the property as a NNL.[2] This designation provides indirect, partial protection of the historic integrity of the properties via tax incentives, grants, monitoring of threats, and other means.[3]


National Natural Landmarks

Name Image Date Location County Size (acres) Ownership Description
1 Abraham's Woods
1973 42°40′58″N 89°29′2″W / 42.68278°N 89.48389°W Green 44 state A remnant of regional climax maple-basswood forest.
2 Avoca River-Bottom Prairie
1980 43°12′3″N 90°18′17″W / 43.20083°N 90.30472°W Iowa 762 state The largest intact prairie in Wisconsin.
3 Baraboo Range
1980 43°25′30″N 89°39′20″W / 43.42500°N 89.65556°W Columbia / Sauk 53,531 state, private An example of an exhumed mountain range.
4 Bose Lake Hemlock Hardwoods
1980 45°55′56″N 88°58′19″W / 45.93222°N 88.97194°W Forest 62 federal The best virgin stand of hemlock in Wisconsin.
5 Cave of the Mounds
1987 43°1′5″N 89°48′58″W / 43.01806°N 89.81611°W Dane 63 private Cave richly decorated with cave formations of most known varieties.
6 Cedarburg Bog
1973 43°23′14″N 88°0′27″W / 43.38722°N 88.00750°W Ozaukee 2817 state, private The largest and most outstanding bog in southeastern Wisconsin.
7 Chippewa River Bottoms
1973 Buffalo 8086 federal, state The largest single stand of bottomland hardwood forest along the once widespread post-glacial forest.
8 Chiwaukee Prairie
1973 42°33′18″N 88°49′0″W / 42.55500°N 88.81667°W Kenosha 94 state, private The best remaining wet prairie in Wisconsin along the shore of Lake Michigan.
9 Finnerud Forest Scientific Area
1973 45°51′29″N 89°44′53″W / 45.85806°N 89.74806°W Oneida 117 state An excellent representative of the northern coniferous forest complex.
10 Flambeau River Hemlock-Harwood Forest
1973 45°44′54″N 90°45′51″W / 45.74833°N 90.76417°W Price / Sawyer 391 state The best and largest remnant of old-growth conifer-hardwood forest in Wisconsin.
11 Kakagon Sloughs
1973 46°39′44″N 90°44′28″W / 46.66222°N 90.74111°W Ashland 2932 Bad River Tribe, Private One of the finest marsh complexes on the upper Great Lakes.
12 Kickapoo River Natural Area
1975 43°53′53″N 90°27′27″W / 43.89806°N 90.45750°W Vernon 5841 federal, state The largest undisturbed concentration of exposed seeping sandstone in Wisconsin. Flora and river meanderings typical of the Driftless Area
13 Moquah Barrens Research Natural Area
1980 46°37′35″N 91°15′0″W / 46.62639°N 91.25000°W Bayfield 632 federal Representative of the jack pine-scrub oak barrens (savannas) of the glacial outwash area. Found in the Chequamegon National Forest of northwestern Wisconsin.
14 Point Beach Ridges
1980 44°12′49″N 87°30′55″W / 44.21361°N 87.51528°W Manitowoc 151 state Alternating ridges and swales formed by previous water levels of Lake Michigan.
15 The Ridges Sanctuary
1967 45°4′22″N 87°7′7″W / 45.07278°N 87.11861°W Door 2281 federal, state A series of sand ridges and swales with associated boreal forest and bog vegetation.
16 Spruce Lake Bog
1967 43°40′14″N 88°12′4″W / 43.67056°N 88.20111°W Fond du Lac 162 state, private A superb, unspoiled example of a northern bog.
17 Summerton Bog
1973 43°45′3″N 89°31′23″W / 43.75083°N 89.52306°W Marquette 266 private An undisturbed and floristically diverse area providing habitat for many rare plant and animal species.
18 Wyalusing Hardwood Forest
1973 42°58′47″N 91°6′31″W / 42.97972°N 91.10861°W Grant 214 state Contains several rare plant species and abundant wildlife, including some endangered species.
Source: [1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Wisconsin". National Park Service. June 28, 2012. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  2. "36 CFR Part 62: National Natural Landmarks Program, Final Rule" (PDF). Federal Register. May 12, 1999. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  3. "Frequently Asked Questions". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
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