Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor |
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 The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Connecticut / Massachusetts, USA |
| Nearest city | Danielson |
| Area | 707,000 acres (1,105 sq mi) |
| Established | November 2, 1994 |
| Governing body | The Last Green Valley, Inc |
The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor is a special place in northeastern Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts. It's known for its beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, farms, and classic New England views. This area was chosen because it's one of the last big green spaces between busy Boston and Washington, D.C..
It also has the largest area of really dark night sky in this region, which is great for stargazing! You'll find some of the biggest unbroken forests in Southern New England here, especially in a part of Connecticut called the Quiet Corner.
Contents
Exploring the Last Green Valley's Geography
This special corridor is mostly made up of the Eastern New England Upland. As you go south and east, it changes into coastal forests. The southern part has gentle rolling hills. But as you head north, the hills become more rugged.
The highest point here is Burley Hill in Union, CT, which is about 1,315 feet (401 meters) tall.
Nature and Size of the Valley
The Last Green Valley has many state parks, state forests, and other protected areas. Some of these include the Yale-Myers Forest, Pachaug State Forest, and the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary. Over 77% of the area's 700,000 acres are covered by forests and farms.
About 300,000 people live in this 35-town region. The Last Green Valley is huge! It's half the size of Grand Canyon National Park. It's also more than ten times bigger than Acadia National Park, which is New England's only national park. This protected area covers over 1,100 square miles. It stretches from the northern tip of East Brookfield, Massachusetts to the southern end of Preston, Connecticut.
The Last Green Valley's History
In the 1980s, more and more land was being developed. This made local citizens want to protect their lands, especially farms. They formed groups to help save these important areas.
In 1988, the National Park Service suggested some solutions. This led to the creation of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor in 1994. In 1999, it grew to include more towns in Massachusetts. Then, in December 2014, a new law officially renamed it the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor.
Special Places to Visit
The Last Green Valley is home to many interesting spots. Here are just a few:
- Boston Hollow
- Bigelow Hollow State Park
- Chelsea Harbor, part of the Downtown Norwich Historic District in Norwich, Connecticut
- Historic Norwichtown Green
- Leffingwell House Museum
- Pachaug-Great Meadow Swamp
Fun Things to Do: Recreation in the Valley
The Last Green Valley offers many places for outdoor fun. You can explore trails, visit parks, and enjoy nature. Here are some popular spots:
- Air Line State Park Trail
- Beaver Brook State Park, Windham, Connecticut
- Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union, Connecticut
- Brimfield State Forest, Brimfield, Massachusetts
- Buffumville Lake, Oxford, Massachusetts
- East Brimfield Lake, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
- James L. Goodwin State Forest, Hampton, Connecticut
- Hodges Village Dam, Oxford, Massachusetts
- Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold, Connecticut
- Killingly Pond State Park, Killingly, Connecticut
- Mansfield Hollow Lake, Mansfield, Connecticut
- Mansfield Hollow State Park, Mansfield, Connecticut
- Mashamoquet Brook State Park, Abington, Connecticut
- Mohegan State Forest, Scotland, Connecticut
- Mooween State Park, Lebanon, Connecticut
- Mountain Laurel Sanctuary, Union, Connecticut
- Natchaug State Forest, Eastford, Connecticut
- Nathan Hale State Forest, Coventry, Connecticut
- Nipmuck State Forest, Union, Connecticut
- Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, Wales/Holland, Massachusetts
- Old Furnace State Park, Killingly, Connecticut
- Pachaug State Forest, Sterling, Voluntown, Griswold and Plainfield, Connecticut
- Pomeroy State Park, Lebanon, Connecticut
- Quaddick State Park, Thompson, Connecticut
- Quinebaug Lake State Park, Killingly, Connecticut
- Ross Pond State Park, Killingly, Connecticut
- Streeter Point Recreation Area, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
- Yale-Myers Forest, Union, Connecticut
- Wells State Park, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
- West Thompson Lake, Thompson, Connecticut
- Westville Lake, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
More Information
- Official site: The Last Green Valley, Inc
- Tourism site: The Last Green Valley Tourism
