Shawnee National Forest

The Shawnee National Forest is a national forest in the United States of America. It is located in the Ozark and Shawnee hills of Southern Illinois, and includes approximately 1100 km ². The Forestry Commission is located in Harrisburg ( Illinois).

History

Emerging from the Illini and Shawnee land purchases was declared in September 1939, the Shawnee National Forest by President Franklin D. Roosevelt National Forest.

A large part of the first ten years acquired for the National Forest land was drained by agricultural use. In the 1930s and 1940s were the Civilian Conservation Corps pine trees planted for erosion prevention and soil structure. However, the forest is also home to many typical for the region hardwood trees, animal and plant species.

In 2006, a new management plan for the Shawnee National Forest was developed by the Forest Service, with the aim to maintain and enhance biodiversity in the forest area.

Geology

During the Illinoskaltzeit (about 352000-132000 years ago) the Laurentide ice sheet covered up to 85 % of the area of Illinois. The southern edge of this ice sheet was located in present-day area of the Shawnee National Forest.

By washouts during the cold period, the Garden of the Gods Wilderness ( Garden of the Gods ) is created, a striking sandstone formation that rises above the tree tops and is used as an observation point. The spherical rocks can ( Camel Rock ) are recognized with a little imagination as oversized heads or animals. Various hiking and equestrian trails open up this popular attraction in the National Forest.