List of National Natural Landmarks in Kansas facts for kids

Kansas is home to five special places called National Natural Landmarks. These landmarks are chosen because they have unique natural features that are important to science and education. They help us understand the Earth's history and how nature works.

Discovering Kansas's Natural Wonders

Kansas has some amazing natural spots! These five National Natural Landmarks are like outdoor museums. They show us different parts of nature, from ancient forests to strange rock formations.

Haskell-Baker Wetlands

The Haskell-Baker Wetlands became a National Natural Landmark in 1969. It is located in Douglas County. This special area is owned by private groups.

What Makes It Special?

The Haskell-Baker Wetlands is a great example of a wetland prairie that hasn't been disturbed. A wetland is an area where water covers the soil, or is present near the surface, for all or parts of the year. Prairies are grasslands. So, a wetland prairie is a grassy area that is often wet. These wetlands are super important for many animals and plants. They act like natural filters for water and provide homes for birds, insects, and other wildlife.

Baldwin Woods

Baldwin Woods was named a National Natural Landmark in 1980. It is also found in Douglas County and is privately owned.

What Makes It Special?

Baldwin Woods is a unique remnant oak-hickory stand. This means it's a small part of an old forest that is mostly made up of oak and hickory trees. These types of forests used to be more common. This landmark helps us see what Kansas forests looked like a long time ago. It's a valuable place for studying forest ecosystems.

Big Basin Prairie Preserve

The Big Basin Prairie Preserve became a National Natural Landmark in 1979. You can find it in Clark County. This landmark is owned by the state of Kansas.

What Makes It Special?

Big Basin Prairie Preserve shows excellent examples of collapse features. These are natural holes or depressions in the ground. They are formed by groundwater geological processes. This means that water moving underground slowly dissolves rocks. When the rock dissolves, the ground above it can sink or collapse, creating these unique basins and sinkholes. It's like the Earth is making its own giant bowls!

Monument Rocks

Monument Rocks was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968. It is located in Gove County and is privately owned.

What Makes It Special?

Monument Rocks features amazing pinnacles, small buttes, and spires. These are tall, thin rock formations. They are made of Niobrara formation chalk. This chalk was formed from the shells of tiny sea creatures that lived millions of years ago when Kansas was covered by a sea. Over time, wind and water have carved these soft chalk rocks into incredible shapes, making them look like natural monuments.

Rock City

Rock City was named a National Natural Landmark in 1976. It is in Ottawa County and is privately owned.

What Makes It Special?

Rock City is famous for its unique cluster of about 200 giant spherical sandstone concretions. Imagine huge, round rocks that look like giant marbles or bowling balls! These concretions formed when minerals cemented sand grains together in a spherical shape. Over millions of years, the softer rock around them wore away, leaving these amazing round boulders standing out. It's a truly strange and wonderful sight!

Images for kids

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  Big Basin Prairie Preserve, showing the floor of the sinkhole.

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  The impressive chalk formations at Monument Rocks.

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  One of the many spherical sandstone concretions at Rock City.