The Lake Wales Ridge State Forest is in the U.S. state of Florida. The 26,563-acre (107 km2) forest is located on the Lake Wales Ridge in Central Florida, within Polk County near Frostproof.
| Lake Wales Ridge State Forest | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Marshland in Scrub-Jay Loop Trail, Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, February 2010 | |
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| Location | Polk County, Florida |
| Nearest city | Frostproof |
| Area | 26,563 acres (107.54 km2) |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
The state forest consists of two large tracts, separated by 2 miles. The Walk in Water Tract, adjoining Lake Weohyakapka (Lake Walk in Water), contains the largest contiguous area of ridge sandhill in public ownership. The Arbuckle Tract, adjoining Lake Arbuckle to the south, is a good example of an ancient scrub ecosystem. Both tracts are open to the public and include hiking trails.[1] Both tracts provide protected habitat for plants species endemic to Florida scrub.[2]
References
edit- ^ Lake Wales Ridge State Forest brochure
- ^ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1990). "Recovery Plan Nineteen Scrub and High Pineland Plant Species" (PDF). Retrieved March 6, 2019.
External links
edit
Media related to Lake Wales Ridge State Forest at Wikimedia Commons
- Lake Wales Ridge State Forest: Florida Division of Forestry- FDACS includes a map of the forest's boundaries.