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. 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. Owners include private individuals, Native American tribes, and several county, state and federal agencies. These landmarks were designed between 1967 and 1987. They vary in size between 44and.
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]
| Name | Image | Date | Location | County | Size (acres) | Ownership | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 42.6828°N -89.4839°W | Green | 44 | state | A remnant of regional climax maple-basswood forest. | ||||
| 2 | 43.2008°N -90.3047°W | Iowa | 762 | state | The largest intact prairie in Wisconsin. | ||||
| 3 | 43.425°N -89.6556°W | Columbia / Sauk | 53,531 | state, private | An example of an exhumed mountain range. | ||||
| 4 | 45.9322°N -88.9719°W | Forest | 62 | federal | The best virgin stand of hemlock in Wisconsin. Part of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. | ||||
| 5 | 43.0181°N -89.8161°W | Dane | 63 | private | Cave richly decorated with cave formations of most known varieties. | ||||
| 6 | 43.3872°N -88.0075°W | Ozaukee | 2817 | state, private | The largest and most outstanding bog in southeastern Wisconsin. | ||||
| 7 | Buffalo | 8086 | federal, state | The largest single stand of bottomland hardwood forest along the once widespread post-glacial forest. | |||||
| 8 | 42.555°N -88.8167°W | Kenosha | 485 | state, private | The best remaining wet prairie in Wisconsin along the shore of Lake Michigan. | ||||
| 9 | 45.8581°N -89.7481°W | Oneida | 117 | state | An excellent representative of the northern coniferous forest complex. | ||||
| 10 | Flambeau River Hemlock-Harwood Forest | 45.7483°N -90.7642°W | Price / Sawyer | 391 | state | The best and largest remnant of old-growth conifer-hardwood forest in Wisconsin. | |||
| 11 | 46.6622°N -90.7411°W | Ashland | 2932 | Bad River Tribe, Private | One of the finest marsh complexes on the upper Great Lakes. | ||||
| 12 | 43.8981°N -90.4575°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 | 46.6264°N -91.25°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 | 44.2136°N -87.5153°W | Manitowoc | 151 | state | Alternating ridges and swales formed by previous water levels of Lake Michigan. | ||||
| 15 | 45.0728°N -87.1186°W | Door | 2281 | federal, state | A series of sand ridges and swales with associated boreal forest and bog vegetation. | ||||
| 16 | 43.6706°N -88.2011°W | Fond du Lac | 162 | state, private | A superb, unspoiled example of a northern bog. | ||||
| 17 | 43.7508°N -89.5231°W | Marquette | 266 | private | An undisturbed and floristically diverse area providing habitat for many rare plant and animal species. | ||||
| 18 | 42.9797°N -91.1086°W | Grant | 214 | state | Contains several rare plant species and abundant wildlife, including some endangered species. | ||||
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