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A Review of Popular Poconos Hotels
From Stroudsburg to the town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, Pocono Hotels can be found in abundance. The price ranges from $55 to $200 and visitors are treated to an indoor pool, fitness center, whirlpool baths and easy access to state parks and...
Cruise Destinations
When someone thinks about cruises, they often think about the
balmy beaches of the Caribbean or Hawaii. However, there are
lots of other places that people do not often think of that are
great places to go on cruises. Cruises are not just for...
The history of Thai currency – from ancient beads to modern baht
The history of Thailand currency traces the evolution of the medium of exchange used in Thailand prior to the 1st century. This dates from the days of barter trade, ancient beads and money in various shapes and sizes till the currency in modern ...
Today's Timeshares Provide Flexibility And Variety
Owning a timeshare used to mean traveling to the same resort, at the same time, year after year. No more! That concept of timeshare is now outdated. Thankfully, timeshares are increasingly more hip to the needs of today's customers, who want more...
Vacationing Aboard Mega Yacht Charters
More than your average sailboat, mega yacht charters offer all
the luxury of a five star hotel, more room than most city
apartments around the world, and the freedom to go where you
want without having to pack and unpack at every stop....
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Big Thicket National Preserve - Texas
Known as the "biological crossroads of North America", the Big Thicket National Preserve has a remarkably diverse wildlife. The National Preserve is a biological and botanical wonder located in the southeastern corner of Texas, near the Gulf of Mexico.
With nearly 100,000 acres, the park was established by Congress in 1974. In 1981, it was designated International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The American Bird Conservancy recognized the Preserve as a Globally Important Bird Area in 2001. Today, these designations attract bird watchers from around the world.
The National Preserve was established to protect the remnant of the region's complex biological diversity. The massive diversity is the result of a favorable climate, geology, and topography. Ice Age plant and animal migrations and more recent storm events, such as hurricanes, have contributed to its uniqueness. Of particular note, Big Thicket is full of 120-foot tall Longleaf Pine trees that have to be seen to be believed.
The terrain of Big Thicket is mind bogglingly complex. For example, bogs sit near arid sand hills and eastern bluebirds nest near roadrunners. There are more than 100 trees and shrubs species, which provide habitat to a diverse array of wildlife. Included in this wildlife are over 300 migratory and nesting bird species, over 1,000 flowering plants, and four of North America's five types of insect-eating plants. Fifty reptile species include a small, rarely seen population of alligators and snapping turtles can also be found in the park. It's as though the Galapagos Islands was duplicated in Texas.
Big Thicket Trivia
1. The
nearly 100,000 acres within Big Thicket National Preserve are not confined to one large tract. Rather the Preserve is composed of tracts scattered among seven counties of east Texas.
2. The Preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors.
3. Approximately 80 miles of the Neches River, the last major free flowing river in Texas, is contained within the Preserve.
4. The Preserve irregular boundary doubles that of Yellowstone.
5. Hunting and trapping are allowed in several units of the Preserve.
6. Every kind of poisonous snake found in the U.S. can be found here - copperhead, cottonmouth, rattlesnake and coral snake - but bites are extremely rare.
7. Four distinct ecologic systems converge in the Big Thicket - Central Plains, Eastern hardwood forest, arid Southwest, and coastal plains.
8. The last reported sighting of the ivory-billed woodpecker took place in Big Thicket in 1971. The bird is now considered extinct.
Big Thicket Attractions
1. Birding activities in the Big Thicket are optimum in the month of April.
2. Hiking is available year-round, though it is warm and humid during the summer months.
Wildflower viewing is best from March to October.
3. Boating, canoeing, and fishing can be enjoyed from April to October.
4. Hunting in specific areas is authorized by a Preserve-issued permit, accompanied by a valid State of Texas Hunting License, from October to mid-January.
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of outdoor writing journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more.
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