Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Liberty County, Texas, United States |
| Nearest city | Cleveland, Texas |
| Area | 30,000 acres (120 km2) |
| Established | 1994 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge |
The Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in southeastern Texas. It was created to protect an important part of nature. This refuge helps keep a unique forest safe for animals and plants. It's a big area along the Trinity River.
Discover the Trinity River Refuge
The Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge officially started on January 4, 1994. When it first opened, it was about 4,400 acres (18 km2) big. Over the years, more land has been added to the refuge. Now, it covers a huge area of about 30,000 acres (120 km2)! That's a lot of space for wildlife to live and thrive.
Why This Refuge Is Important
The main reason this refuge was created is to protect a special type of forest. This forest is called a "bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem." Imagine a forest that grows in low, wet areas, often near rivers. The trees there are mostly "hardwood" trees, like oaks and maples. This kind of forest is very important because it provides homes for many different animals. It's like a big apartment building for nature!
The refuge protects a part of this forest along the Trinity River. This area used to be much larger. Now, the refuge helps save what's left of this amazing natural habitat.
The Unique Landscape of the Refuge
The land at the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is quite flat. It's a "floodplain," which means it's an area of land next to a river that can get flooded when the river overflows. This makes the soil very rich and good for plants.
The refuge has many interesting water features:
- Sloughs: These are muddy, slow-moving channels of water. They are often found in wetlands.
- Oxbow Lakes: These are U-shaped lakes that form when a wide bend in a river is cut off from the main river. They look like the curved part of an ox's yoke.
- Artesian Wells: These are natural springs where water flows up from underground.
- Tributaries: These are smaller streams or rivers that flow into the main Trinity River.
All these water sources and the forest create a perfect home for many different kinds of wildlife. You might find birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals living here. The refuge helps make sure they have a safe place to live and grow.
