- Talladega National Forest
Infobox Protected area
name = Talladega National Forest
iucn_category = VI
caption =
locator_x = 197
locator_y = 121
location =Alabama , USA
nearest_city = Talladega, AL
lat_degrees = 33
lat_minutes = 11
lat_seconds = 46
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 86
long_minutes = 27
long_seconds = 45
long_direction = W
area = 392,567 acres (1,588.66 km²)
established =July 17 ,1936
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = U.S. Forest ServiceCentral
Alabama 's Talladega National Forest covers 392,567 acres (613.39 sq mi, or 1,588.66 km²) at the southern edge of theAppalachian s. [cite web|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama/forests/|title=National Forests in Alabama|accessdate=2008-10-05|work=USDA Forest Service|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture]Before it was bought by the federal government in the 1930s, the area that comprises the Talladega was extensively logged and represented some of the most abused, eroded wastelands in all of Alabama. Pine forest regrowth now hosts a diverse eco-system.
The tiny 7,400 acre (30 km²)
Cheaha Wilderness preserves a portion of this natural wealth near Rebecca Mountain.The forest is headquartered in Montgomery, as are all four National Forests in Alabama (Conecuh, Talladega, Tuskegee, and William B. Bankhead). The Talladega National Forest is physically separated into two areas, and divided into three Ranger Districts:
*Oakmulgee District lies in the central part of the state, east of Tuscaloosa in Hale, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Perry, Chilton and Dallas Counties. It consists of level to moderately sloping, broad ridges with stream terraces and broad floodplains. The ranger station is located in Brent.
*The Shoal Creek and Talladega Districts are located in the northeastern part of the state in Cherokee, Calhoun, Cleburne, Talladega and Clay Counties. They consist of upland hills and low mountains with predominantly moderately steep slopes. The Shoal Creek ranger station is located in Heflin and the Talladega ranger station in its namesake city of Talladega.
The forest covers parts of eleven counties in Alabama. In descending order of forest land area they are Cleburne, Clay, Bibb, Talladega, Perry, Hale, Calhoun, Chilton, Tuscaloosa, Cherokee, and Dallas counties. [http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2007/TABLE_6.htm]
References
External links
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama/aboutus/ Forest Service website on Talladega National Forest]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.