Lac la Croix Research Natural Area

Lac la Croix Research Natural Area is a natural area that is protected by the United States Department of Agriculture, specifically through the branch of the Forest Service. It was established in 1942 and consists of convert|973|acre|km2 of land. [ cite web | title = Northern Research Stations | publisher = U. S. Forest Service | url = http://nrs.fs.fed.us/rna/established/ |accessdate = 2007-12-18] It is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota and is part of the Superior National Forest.

Ecology

Lac la Croix is a forested area that consists mostly of red and white pine trees. It is one of the few remaining unmodified sections of "virgin pine" in the United States. [cite web | title = Lac la Croix subpage | publisher = U. S. Forest Service | url = http://nrs.fs.fed.us/rna/mn/superior/lac-la-croix/ | accessdate = 2007-12-17] Moose, black bear, and white-tailed deer are common in the area.

Conservation

The area was established as a "Research Natural Area" by the U. S. Forest Service in 1942. [Citation | last = LeBarron | first = Russell K. | last2 = Kneipp (Acting Chief Forester) | first2 = L. F. | title = The Keeley Creek and Lac la Croix Natural Areas | date = 1942-05-10 | url = http://nrs.fs.fed.us/rna/documents/establishment/mn_superior_keeley_creek_lac_lacroix.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-12-18 ] In February 1980 the United States Secretary of the Interior designated Lac la Croix Research Natural Area as a National Natural Landmark under the Historic Sites Act.cite web | title = Lac La Croix Research Natural Area | work = NNL Guide-Minnesota | publisher = National Park Service | url = http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/Registry/USA_Map/States/Minnesota/NNL/LLC/index.cfm | accessdate = 2007-12-18 ] This designation recognized the area as an outstanding example of the United States' natural history. [cite web | title = Overview, National Natural Landmarks | work = Nature & Science | publisher = National Park Service | url = http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/ | accessdate = 2007-12-17] The National Park Service describes the area as "old-growth virgin pine forests . . . [which] contains most of the physiographic and ecological features characteristic of the Boundary Waters region".

References