Lost Lake Peatland SNA
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2,660 Acres (200* Acres) Located NE of Virginia. From Virginia, go N on MN Hwy 169 to MN Hwy 1, then 1.25 miles W on MN Hwy 1 to Co Rd 176, then N to Co Rd 158, and N to the peatland on the south side of the lake. St. Louis County Twp 62N Rng 16W Sec 17-21 Type: Coniferous Forest ECS Subsection: Littlefork-Vermilion Uplands |
Description:
Lost Lake Peatland, situated in the Littlefork-Vermilion Uplands, forms a link between the western peatlands of the Agassiz Lowlands and the northeastern Minnesota peatlands of Sand Lake. It demonstrates the transition between these two different peatland systems. Its landforms are only minimally disturbed by winter trails, leaving a featureless water track, a ribbed fen, a raised bog, and a crested raised bog, all in their natural state. Here visitors can see an emerging ribbed fen and ovoid island, with more mature forms nearby for comparison. This relatively small peatland also contains Lost Lake and several mineral islands. Coast sedge and American bog rush are among the notable plant species found here. Nearby, on St. Louis County land northwest of the lake, an old-growth yellow birch-white cedar community contains birch likely to be over 250 years old. In recognition of a gift of land on the north end of the lake, part of this peatland has been designated the Fairbanks Family Nature Preserve Unit. * The Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 legislatively established the boundaries of the Peatland SNA as displayed. The acreage of land within these boundaries is cited first. The acreage of land owned by the State of Minnesota is cited in parenthesis.
Visitor notes:
If you intend to visit this site it is advisable to carry a topographical map produced by the U.S. Geological Survey. These maps display many old logging trails which may or may not be identifiable on the ground anymore.