Ridges Sanctuary

Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
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The Ridges Sanctuary is noted for two things. First, it is a relict boreal forest, and second, it has a remarkable series of Holocene beach ridges.
The ridges are low wooded strips separated by low swampy open swales. The view at left looks along a swale.
Left: one of the swales.
Left: old beach gravel in one of the swales.
The wooded crest of a ridge. The relief between ridges and troughs is less than a meter
Here we look from one ridge, across a shallow trough (in this case dry) to a second ridge.
Looking from a ridge into a swale.
A very shallow and narrow swale.
Looking across a ridge to the swale beyond.
The path follows a ridge crest; to the left is a swampy trough.
Boardwalks are used to allow access without damaging the subtle topography.

Above: the inner or northern of the two range lights on the sanctuary. Below: the walkway between the range lights. Ships entering the harbor lined up the two lights to maintain a safe course.

Left and below: the outer or southern range light.

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Created 11 April 2007, Last Update 11 April 2007

Not an official UW Green Bay site


	The Ridges Sanctuary is noted for two things. First, it is a relict boreal forest, and second, it has a remarkable series of Holocene beach ridges. The ridges are low wooded strips separated by low swampy open swales. The view at left looks along a swale.
	Left: one of the swales.
	Left: old beach gravel in one of the swales.
	The wooded crest of a ridge. The relief between ridges and troughs is less than a meter
	Here we look from one ridge, across a shallow trough (in this case dry) to a second ridge.
	Looking from a ridge into a swale.
	A very shallow and narrow swale.
	Looking across a ridge to the swale beyond.
	The path follows a ridge crest; to the left is a swampy trough.
	Boardwalks are used to allow access without damaging the subtle topography.

Above: the inner or northern of the two range lights on the sanctuary.	Below: the walkway between the range lights. Ships entering the harbor lined up the two lights to maintain a safe course.

	Left and below: the outer or southern range light.