| Newsome Sinks Karst Area | |
| Map: | USA Alabama |
| Location: | Morgan County, Alabama |
| Coords: | 34.4408°N -86.5972°W |
| Area: | 9925acres NNL 1700acres |
Newsome Sinks Karst Area is a privately owned karst formation in Morgan County, Alabama. It was listed as a National Natural Landmark in November 1973.[1]
The valley was named for William Newsome who settled in the area in 1838. It is approximately 4miles long and up to 0.75miles wide. The NNL covers 1700acres, but the total karst area is around 9925acres.[2] There are more than forty caves in the region extending almost 9.5miles and up to 400feet deep. The land is part of the Cotaco Creek watershed. The underlying rock is Bangor Limestone formed in the Mississippian Age.[3]
There are over 15 rare species in the area, such as the southern cavefish, gray bat, Indiana bat, American Hart's-tongue fern and Tennessee bladderfern.[2]
During the American Civil War, saltpeter was mined to make gunpowder here, and the Confederates had a leather tanning operation until it was destroyed by Union forces.[4]