- Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge
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Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)Location Garden County, Nebraska, USA Nearest city Alliance, NE Coordinates 41°43′43″N 102°20′38″W / 41.72861°N 102.34389°WCoordinates: 41°43′43″N 102°20′38″W / 41.72861°N 102.34389°W Area 45,818 acres (185 km2) Established 1931 Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state of Nebraska and includes 45,818 acres (185 km2). The refuge contains the largest protected continuous sand dunes in the U.S. A dozen small lakes and numerous ponds are fed by underground aquifers in areas where the sand dunes are below the water table. Some of the dunes are covered in shrubs and grasses, while others are completely bare. After the end of the Pinedale glaciation, the Holocene glacial retreat exposed the sand dunes that had been deposited in their current location by the vast continental glaciers. This refuge manages the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge and together they form the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Crescent Lake NWR was protected in 1931 to ensure the wetlands would continue to be protected, providing migratory bird species and opther animals a safe haven. As many as twenty Bald eagle pairs have been known to spend part of the year within the refuge, and along another 200 observed bird species, the refuge is considered one of the finest in the U.S. for birders. The grasses support a large group of Pronghorn as well as Mule and White-tailed deer. bobcats, beaver, prairie dog and raccoon are also found on the refuge. Sport fishing is popular with Yellow Perch, Walleye and Largemouth bass being the more commonly sought.
Crescent Lake NWR is located approximately 28 miles (45 km) north of Oshkosh, Nebraska. From U.S. Highway 26, turn north on West Second. Proceed north out of town and follow directional signs to the Refuge headquarters. From U.S. Highway 2, turn south just east of Lakeside, Nebraska.
External links
- "Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://crescentlake.fws.gov/crescentlake/index.html. Retrieved 2006-08-16.
- "Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge". Recreation.gov. http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=1361&agencyCode=127. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
Federal National MonumentsNational Historic TrailsNational Recreation AreasNational Wildlife RefugesBoyer Chute · Crescent Lake · DeSoto · Fort Niobrara · John and Louise Seier · Karl E. Mundt · North Platte · Rainwater Basin · Valentine
State State ParksChadron · Eugene T. Mahoney · Fort Robinson · Indian Cave · Niobrara · Platte River · Ponca · Smith Falls
State Historical ParksAshfall Fossil Beds · Ash Hollow · Arbor Lodge · Bowring Ranch · Buffalo Bill Ranch · Champion Mills · Fort Atkinson · Fort Hartsuff · Fort Kearny · Rock Creek Station
State Recreation AreasAlexandria · Arnold · Atkinson Lake · Blue River · Bluestem · Bowman Lake · Box Butte Reservoir · Branched Oak · Bridgeport · Brownville · Calamus · Champion Lake · Cheyenne · Conestoga · Cottonmill · Crystal Lake · Dead Timber · DLD · Enders Reservoir · Fort Kearny · Fremont Lakes · Gallagher Canyon · Johnson Lake · Keller Park · Lake Maloney · Lake McConaughy · Lake Minatare · Lake Ogallala · Lewis and Clark · Long Lake · Long Pine · Louisville · Medicine Creek · Memphis · Merritt Reservoir · Mormon Island · North Loup · Olive Creek · Oliver Reservoir · Pawnee Lake · Pelican Point · Pibel Lake · Pioneer · Red Willow Reservoir · Riverview Marina · Rock Creek Lake · Rock Creek Station · Rockford · Sandy Channel · Schramm Park · Sherman Reservoir · Stagecoach · Summit Lake · Sutherland Reservoir · Swanson Reservoir · Two Rivers · Union Pacific · Verdon · Victoria Springs · Wagon Train · Walgren Lake · War Axe · Wildcat Hills · Willow Creek · Windmill
State Recreation TrailsCategories:- IUCN Category IV
- Protected areas of Garden County, Nebraska
- National Wildlife Refuges in Nebraska
- Nebraska geography stubs
- Midwestern United States protected area stubs
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