The Fern Cliff Nature Preserve is a 157 acres (64 ha) land parcel of steep and near-vertical rock and stone surfaces located in Putnam County, Indiana, near Greencastle. It is a National Natural Landmark. The Nature Conservancy has custody over this nature preserve, and operates it as a botanical refuge.[2] Parking for the trailhead is at the southwest corner of the Preserve.[3]
| Fern Cliff Nature Preserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)[1] | |
  Location in Indiana  Location in United States | |
| Location | Putnam County, Indiana, US |
| Nearest city | Greencastle |
| Coordinates | 39°36′36″N 86°57′54″W / 39.61000°N 86.96500°W |
| Area | 157 acres (0.64 km2) |
| Governing body | Nature Conservancy |
Description
editThe Fern Cliff Nature Preserve, with its steep slopes, exposed rock surfaces, and significant areas that get little or no direct sunlight, is a place of non-standard plant life, including many ferns and bryophytes. The Nature Conservancy calls the land parcel "a botanists' floral paradise."[2]
Fern Cliff's geology is characterized by thick, crumbling layers of sandstone. Its wooded ravines contains oak, beech, hickory, sugar maple, ash, wild cherry, tuliptree, and other Eastern Woodland trees. Several of these tree types have, however, been hit hard by epidemic blights.[3] The Nature Preserve's non-standard botany is highly vulnerable to invasive species. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) works as ally and partner with the Natural Conservancy in the labor-intensive work of maintaining the parcel.[2]
Fern Cliff has a hiking trail, but sandstone rockclimbing is dangerous and not allowed. A section of the Nature Preserve is a repurposed sandstone quarry. High-quality container sand was extracted from crushed quarry stone, and a glass manufacturer in nearby Terre Haute used the sand to make the first bottles in which packaged Coca-Cola was sold.[3]
References
edit- ^ Protected Area Profile for Fern Cliff Nature Preserve Archived December 13, 2023, at the Wayback Machine from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Places We Protect: Fern Cliff, Indiana". Nature Conservancy. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ a b c "Putnam County: Fern Cliff Nature Preserve". Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau. 5 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-05-26.