North Landing River Natural Area Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Landing RiverNatural Area Preserve |
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 North Landing River
Natural Area Preserve Location in Virginia
North Landing River
Natural Area Preserve Location in the United States
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| Location | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Area | 3,441 acres (13.93 km2) |
| Established | 1990 |
| Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
The North Landing River Natural Area Preserve is a special protected area in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. It covers about 3,441 acres (1,392 km2) of land. This preserve is mostly made up of wetlands, which are areas where the land is covered by water, either all the time or just part of the year. It's a very important place because it protects five types of wetlands that are rare in Virginia.
Contents
What is the North Landing River Preserve?
This preserve is a big part of the Virginia Natural Area Preserve System. It helps protect unique natural spaces. The North Landing River Preserve is especially important for its wetlands. These wet areas are home to many different plants and animals.
A Special Place for Nature
The preserve protects a type of wetland called a pocosin. Pocosins are becoming very rare in the southeastern United States. The preserve also has many forested swamps and freshwater tidal marshes. All these different wet areas are found along the lower North Landing River.
Rare Plants and Animals
Because of its unique habitats, the preserve supports many rare species. These are plants and animals that are not found in many other places. The area is also a home for many waterfowl, which are birds that live near water. They come here to breed and spend the winter.
History of the Preserve
The North Landing River Natural Area Preserve was officially created in 1990. It was a very important moment for conservation in Virginia. In fact, it was the very first Natural Area Preserve to be established in the state! This means it led the way for protecting other special natural places in Virginia.
Visiting the Preserve
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation owns and takes care of the preserve. For about ten years, the preserve was closed to the public. This was because of some illegal activities and not enough staff to manage it. But good news! The preserve was planned to re-open for visitors in 2016 or 2017.
To make it better for people to visit, some improvements were made. These include:
- A boardwalk, which is a raised path, so you can walk through wet areas without getting muddy.
- Informational signs that teach you about the plants, animals, and history of the preserve.
- A wildlife viewing platform, where you can quietly watch animals in their natural home.
- A special launch area for canoes and kayaks, so you can explore the waterways.
