Rockwoods Reservation
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Rockwood_Reservation-terrain1.jpg
Being located close to a major urban area and in a rapidly developing suburban area makes it an especially important nature reserve. Rockwoods supports a diverse array of native plant and animal life and contains geologically interesting and ecologically important springs and caves, plus interesting rock formations. But Rockwoods Reservation is not a pristine wilderness untouched by human hands; remnants of extensive past limestone, clay and gravel quarrying operations are hidden in the dense second growth hardwood forest. Most of the original forest was clearcut to feed lime kilns.
Rockwoods Reservation adjoins St. Louis County's 1,724 acre (7.0 km²) Greensfelder Park to the south, which itself abuts the state's 1,388 acre (5.6 km²) Rockwoods Range Conservation Area. Taken together, these three parcels constitute a contiguous greenbelt of almost 5,000 acres (20 km²). The ten-mile (16 km) Greenrock Trail is a hiking trail that crosses all three areas with one terminus in Rockwoods Reservation.
External links
- Missouri Department of Conservation Atlas Online (http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/atlas/)