The Ridges Sanctuary

Nature preserve and state natural area in Door County, Wisconsin
45°04′22″N 87°07′07″W / 45.0729°N 87.1187°W / 45.0729; -87.1187Area1,600 acres (650 ha)Established1937ridgessanctuary.org
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated1967

The Ridges Sanctuary is a 1,600-acre (650 ha) nature preserve and land trust in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. It is listed as a National Natural Landmark, Important Bird Area and Wisconsin State Natural Area.[1] It was founded in 1937 and was the first land trust in the state.[2][3]

The sanctuary is also home to the Baileys Harbor Range Lights, which were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.[4]

The Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center opened in 2015.[5] The 7,400-square foot facility is LEED certified,[6] and includes displays about the preserve's karst topography, wildflowers, plants, animals and the history of the site's founding.

The sanctuary includes a small amount of the raw humus rendzina soil type, which is globally uncommon.[7] and is also found in the Marshall's Point State Natural Area, a residential development not open to the public.[8]

Orchid project

Although the sanctuary is home to wild orchids, it also operates an orchid restoration project to cultivate and introduce rare orchids into otherwise natural plant communities.[9] 25 native orchid species are currently kept at the Ridges.[10] A 1998 survey of wild, native orchids was carried out in response to continued theft of the sanctuary orchids. 28 species were identified.[11]

Climate

The Ridges Sanctuary State Natural Area
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
63
 
 
−4
−5
 
 
52
 
 
−6
−8
 
 
49
 
 
0
−3
 
 
97
 
 
3
1
 
 
86
 
 
7
3
 
 
91
 
 
14
9
 
 
105
 
 
15
14
 
 
96
 
 
18
17
 
 
96
 
 
16
15
 
 
107
 
 
10
6
 
 
80
 
 
4
4
 
 
57
 
 
3
−2
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [12]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
2.5
 
 
25
23
 
 
2
 
 
21
18
 
 
1.9
 
 
32
27
 
 
3.8
 
 
37
34
 
 
3.4
 
 
45
37
 
 
3.6
 
 
57
48
 
 
4.1
 
 
59
57
 
 
3.8
 
 
64
63
 
 
3.8
 
 
61
59
 
 
4.2
 
 
50
43
 
 
3.1
 
 
39
39
 
 
2.2
 
 
37
28
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Gallery

  • Baileys Harbor Range Lights
    Baileys Harbor Range Lights
  • Survey marker in the sanctuary
    Survey marker in the sanctuary
  • Plaque near the base of the range lights
    Plaque near the base of the range lights
  • Chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly in June at the Ridges.
    Chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly in June at the Ridges.
  • Trail at the sanctuary, November 27, 2021
    Trail at the sanctuary, November 27, 2021

See also

  • Jens Jensen
  • Emma Toft

References

  1. ^ "Our Story". The Ridges Sanctuary. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  2. ^ The Ridges Sanctuary Interpretive Master Plan, February 2013.
  3. ^ Clark, Brian E. "Weekend Getaway: Door County's Ridges Sanctuary a special boreal habitat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  4. ^ Preserving Baileys Harbor range lights by Tina M. Gohr, Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 11, 2017
  5. ^ "Ridges Sanctuary's new Nature Center opens Saturday". Green Bay Press-Gazette. June 13, 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Cook-Albert Fuller Center is Full of Green Features". Door County Pulse. July 30, 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  7. ^ Door to Nature: Trailing Arbutus by Roy and Charlotte Lukes, Peninsula Pulse, May 5, 2017
  8. ^ Natural Area Inventory, Wisconsin's Great Lakes Coast by the Coastal Zone Information Center, revised 1980
  9. ^ Orchid Restoration Work at The Ridges By Door County Pulse, Peninsula Pulse, January 20, 2017
  10. ^ Jones, Meg (September 17, 2013). "Rare native orchids in Door County get a helping hand". Jsonline. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  11. ^ Knudson, Kip (2005). "An Orchid Survey of the Ridges Sanctuary, Selbyana 26(1/2), 1/2, Proceedings of the Second International Orchid Conservation Congress, pages 46–48". Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Inc. JSTOR 41760172.
  12. ^ "NASA EarthData Search". NASA. Retrieved 30 January 2016.

External links

  • The Ridges Sanctuary
  • Trail Map
  • Baileys Harbor Ridges Park Beach description in Door County Outdoors: A Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Beaches, and Natural Places by Magill Weber, Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 2011, page 115
  • Baileys Harbor Ridges County Park, Door County Facilities and Parks Department
  • Ridges Sanctuary Group Organized, Door County Advocate, October 22, 1937
  • Ridges Road: A History with Leean Despotes by the Baileys Harbor Historical Society, Sevestopol TV, June 18, 2015
  • The Ridges Sanctuary with Steve Leonard by the Baileys Harbor Historical Society, Sevestopol TV, August 21, 2012


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