Icelandic State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Icelandic State Park |
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Lake Renwick and Renwick Dam
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| Location | Pembina County, North Dakota, United States |
| Nearest city | Cavalier, North Dakota |
| Area | 930.3 acres (376.5 ha) |
| Elevation | 971 ft (296 m) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Administered by | North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department |
| Designation | North Dakota state park |
Icelandic State Park is a cool place for outdoor fun in North Dakota. It's a public park located on the north side of Lake Renwick. You can find it about 6 miles west of the town of Cavalier. This park covers over 900 acres, and more than 200 of those acres are filled with trees!
The park has lots to offer, including a sandy beach, a museum, and old historic buildings. There's also the Pioneer Heritage Center, which tells stories of the past. A special part of the park is the Gunlogson State Nature Preserve, where you can explore nature.
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Discover Icelandic State Park
Icelandic State Park is a fantastic spot for families and friends to enjoy nature and learn about history. It's known for its beautiful lake, thick forests, and special areas that protect plants and animals. The park is a great example of North Dakota's natural beauty and its connection to Icelandic culture.
A Look Back: Park History
This park was created in 1964. It was made to help save and share the history of Icelandic people in North Dakota. A man named G. B. Gunlogson, who lived from 1887 to 1983, was very generous. In 1963, he gave 200 acres of his family's land to the state. His family had owned this land for over 80 years! This gift helped create the park we enjoy today.
Fun Things to Do
Icelandic State Park offers many exciting activities for visitors. You can go camping and spend a night under the stars. The lake is perfect for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and boating. Imagine paddling across the calm water on a sunny day!
If you love to explore, the nature preserve has three miles of trails. These trails are great for hiking in warmer months and cross-country skiing when it snows. There's even a longer trail, the 6-mile-long Cavlandic Trail, which connects the park all the way to the city of Cavalier. Right next to the park, you'll find the Cavalier Country Club, which has a 9-hole public golf course.
Explore the Nature Preserve
The Gunlogson State Nature Preserve is a very special part of Icelandic State Park. It's like a living museum of trees and plants, also known as an arboretum. It's also a nature preserve, meaning it protects the natural environment. This area is full of tall, old elm and basswood trees. It stretches along both sides of the Tongue River.
Amazing Plants and Animals
The preserve is home to many rare and interesting species. You might spot unique plants like the ladyfern, water arum, and two-seeded sedge. It's also a great place for animal watching. Keep an eye out for birds like the pileated woodpecker and the western wood pewee. In the water, you might even see a finescale dace, which is a type of small fish.
The preserve has many different kinds of trees and woody plants. You can find various types of maple, birch, dogwood, and ash trees. There are also quaking aspen, balsam poplar, and chokecherry plants. Willows, American linden, and different kinds of elm trees also grow here. In total, about one hundred different plant species make their home in this amazing preserve.
