Allegheny Islands Wilderness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allegheny Islands Wilderness |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
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 Allegheny Islands Wilderness
Location in the United States
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| Location | Warren / Forest counties, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Area | 368 acres (1.49 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness is a special natural area found in the Allegheny National Forest. It's made up of seven islands in the Allegheny River. These islands cover about 368 acres (1.49 km2), which is like 368 football fields! They were formed by the river carrying dirt and sand, which then built up over time. You can find these islands between the Buckaloons Recreation Area and Tionesta, Pennsylvania.
The United States Congress created this wilderness area in 1984. It's part of a bigger system called the National Wilderness Preservation System, which protects wild places across the country. It's actually one of the smallest wilderness areas in the whole United States.
Contents
Trees and Plants of the Islands
The islands are home to many different kinds of trees and plants. You'll find trees that love to grow near rivers. Some common trees here include willows, American sycamores, shagbark hickory trees, green ash trees, and silver maples.
Two of the islands, Crull's and Thompson's Island, have very old and large forests. These forests cover about 156 acres (63 ha).
Animals Living on the Islands
This wilderness area is a great place for many animals. You might spot Bald eagles flying overhead, as they have returned to this area. Otters have also been brought back to live here.
Other animals you can see include ospreys, soft-shelled turtles, and great blue herons. Look for kingfishers diving for fish, common mergansers, and mallard ducks. You might even see beavers building their homes.
The Allegheny River itself is home to many different kinds of freshwater mussels. Some of these mussels are very rare. For example, the federally endangered clubshell mussel (Pleurobema clava) lives here. The Northern riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) is also found in these waters.
Rare fish also swim in the river around the islands. These include the bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) and the spotted darter (Etheostoma maculatum).
Islands in the Wilderness Area
The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness includes these seven islands:
- Crull's Island
- Thompson's Island
- R. Thompson's Island
- Courson Island
- King's Islands
- Baker Islands
- No-Name Island
In Popular Culture
This special area was featured in an episode of the TV show Limitless. The episode was called "Brian Finch's Black Op" and aired on November 3, 2015.
