Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
|
|
Felsenthal Lock and Dam, impounding Lake Jack Lee in the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
|
|
 Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Arkansas, United States |
| Nearest city | Crossett, Arkansas |
| Area | 64,902 acres (262.65 km2) |
| Elevation | 65 feet is the normal navigation pool elevation above the mean sea level |
| Established | 1970 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Felsenthal NWR |
The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is a huge natural area in south-central Arkansas. It covers over 64,900 acres, which is like having more than 49,000 football fields! This special place is home to many different animals and plants. It's also known as the world's largest green tree reservoir. This means it's a forest that gets flooded on purpose to create a perfect home for ducks and other water birds.
Contents
Discover Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge!
The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is a giant wetlands area. It is located near Lake Jack Lee, where the Saline River and Ouachita River meet. This refuge is a mix of many streams, creeks, lakes, and sloughs.
What Makes Felsenthal Special?
Besides its wetlands, the refuge also has large areas of pine forests. You can also find upland hardwood forests here. These different types of habitats make it a great home for many creatures.
Amazing Animals of Felsenthal
Felsenthal is a busy place for birds! Many different kinds of waterfowl live here. These include ducks and geese that migrate, meaning they fly here for part of the year. Other marsh and water birds also call this refuge home.
The refuge is a very important place for some special animals:
- Red-cockaded woodpeckers: This bird is quite rare. Felsenthal has a large group of them.
- Bald eagles: You might spot the national bird of the United States soaring high above.
- American alligators: These large reptiles also live in the refuge's waters.
A Look Back in Time
The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is not just about nature. It also holds a lot of history! There are more than 200 Native American archaeological sites here. These sites show us how people lived long ago.
Most of these sites belong to the Caddo tribe. They lived in this area as far back as 5,000 years ago! You can find remains of their old fishing camps. There are also ceremonial plazas and temple mounds. Some sites even show where large villages with up to 200 buildings once stood.
How the Refuge Was Created
The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge was officially created in 1970. It was set up to protect this important natural area. It also helps to preserve the amazing wildlife and historical sites found here.
