Allegheny Islands Wilderness

Infobox_protected_area | name = Allegheny Islands Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib

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caption =
locator_x = 230
locator_y = 63
location = Pennsylvania, USA
nearest_city =
lat_degrees =
lat_minutes =
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees =
long_minutes =
long_seconds =
long_direction = W
area = convert|368|acre|km2|1|sing=off
established = 1984
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = U.S. Forest Service

The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness is located in the Allegheny National Forest. It is comprised of seven islands in the Allegheny River, totaling 368 acres. All are alluvial origin. The islands are located between Buckaloons Recreation Area and Tionesta, Pennsylvania.

The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness was created by Congress in 1984 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. It is one of the smallest wilderness areas of the United States.

Flora

These islands are characterized by river bottom forest types such as willows, American sycamore, shagbark hickory, green ash, and silver maple.

Fauna

Bald Eagles have returned to the area, and otters have been re introduced. The area is home to ospreys, soft-shelled turtles, great blue herons, kingfishers, common mergansers, mallards, and beavers.

The Allegheny River is home to a variety of freshwater mussels.

The islands are home to the federally endangered clubshell mussel ("Pleurobema clava") and the Northern riffleshell ("Epioblasma torulosa rangiana").

They are also home to rare fishes, including the bluebreast darter ("Etheostoma camurum"), and the spotted darter ("Etheostoma maculatum").

List of Islands

*Crull's Island, Pennsylvania
*Thompson's Island, Pennsylvania
*R. Thompson's Island, Pennsylvania
*Courson Island, Pennsylvania
*King's Island, Pennsylvania
*Baker Island, Pennsylvania
*No-Name Island, Pennsylvania

References

* [http://naturetourism.allegheny.edu/essay_alleghenyriverislandswilderness.pdf#search=%22Allegheny%20River%20Islands%22 Nature Tourism]
* [http://www.fish.state.pa.us/watertrails/alleg/trailguide.htm Middle Allegheny River Water Trail]
* [http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/2000/00julaug/allwtrtr.pdf#search=%22Allegheny%20River%20Islands%22 Wilderness Islands Water Trail]

ee also

*List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
*Wilderness Act

External links

* [http://www.pawild.org/ Friends of Allegheny Wilderness]