Icelandic State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Icelandic State Park |
|
|---|---|
Lake Renwick and Renwick Dam
|
|
 Icelandic State Park
Location in North Dakota
|
|
| Location | Pembina County, North Dakota, United States |
| Nearest city | Cavalier, North Dakota |
| Area | 930.3 acres (376.5 ha) |
| Elevation | 971 ft (296 m) |
| Designation | North Dakota state park |
| Established | 1964 |
| Administrator | North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department |
| Website | Icelandic State Park |
Icelandic State Park is a fun public park located in Pembina County, North Dakota. It sits on the north shore of Lake Renwick, about 6 miles west of Cavalier. This park covers over 900 acres, with more than 200 acres of beautiful woods.
The park is a great place to visit! It has a beach for swimming, a museum, and historic buildings. You can also explore the Pioneer Heritage Center and the special Gunlogson State Nature Preserve.
Contents
Park History
Icelandic State Park was created in 1964. Its main goal was to protect and celebrate the history of Icelandic heritage in North Dakota.
The land for the park was given to the state in 1963 by G. B. Gunlogson. His family had owned this land for over 80 years before he donated 200 acres of it.
Things to Do at the Park
There are many exciting activities you can enjoy at Icelandic State Park:
- Camping: Spend a night or more under the stars.
- Water Fun: Go fishing, swimming, kayaking, or boating on Lake Renwick.
- Hiking: Explore the trails in the nature preserve. There are three miles of trails perfect for hiking.
- Winter Sports: In winter, these trails are great for cross-country skiing.
- Biking: The 6-mile-long Cavlandic Trail connects the park to the city of Cavalier, perfect for a bike ride.
- Golf: The park is right next to the Cavalier Country Club, where you can play a 9-hole round of golf.
Gunlogson State Nature Preserve
The Gunlogson State Nature Preserve is a very special part of the park. It's like a living museum of trees, also known as an arboretum. It's also a nature preserve, which means it's a protected area for plants and animals.
This preserve is located along both sides of the Tongue River. It's filled with old, tall elm and basswood trees.
Rare Plants and Animals
The Gunlogson State Nature Preserve is home to many rare species. You might spot unique plants like the ladyfern, water arum, and two-seeded sedge.
It's also a great place for birdwatching! Keep an eye out for the pileated woodpecker and the western wood pewee. In the water, you might find the rare finescale dace fish.
Trees and Woody Plants
The preserve has a wide variety of woody plants. You can find different types of trees and shrubs, including:
- Maple (like Acer negundo)
- Birch (like Betula papyrifera)
- Dogwood (like Cornus stolonifera)
- Hazel (Corylus cornuta)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus rotundifolia)
- Silverberry (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
- Ash (like Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
- Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
- Willow (like Salix amygdaloides and Salix bebbiana)
- American linden (Tilia americana)
- Elm (like Ulmus americana and Ulmus pumila)
In total, there are about one hundred other plant species growing in this special preserve.
