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  • Sunset over the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 7,440-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. <br />
<br />
The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
    Sunset at Loess Bluffs NWR-2.jpg
  • An unnamed peak in Chilkat Range near Juneau is basked in the light of the sunset as seen from the Lynn Canal near Juneau, Alaska.
    Chilkat Range peak at sunset.jpg
  • Sunset over the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 7,440-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. <br />
<br />
The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
    Sunset at Loess Bluffs NWR-3.jpg
  • Nun Mountain, located in the Chilkat Range basked in the light of the sunset as seen from the Lynn Canal near Juneau, Alaska.
    Nun Mountain sunset.jpg
  • Denali (Athabaskan for "The High One") basks in the final light of sunset on a summer evening in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. The snow and glacier covered mountain, part of the Alaska Range soars to a height of 20,310 feet. Denali is the tallest mountain on the North American continent. Although Mt. Everest is higher, the vertical rise of Denali is greater. This view is of the north slopes of the mountain seen from Wonder Lake.
    Sunset on Denali.jpg
  • The dry remains of the flower heads of aster wildflowers light up during a fall sunset at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Fall sunset on tallgrass prairie ast...jpg
  • Sunset over the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 7,440-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. <br />
<br />
The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
    Sunset at Loess Bluffs NWR.jpg
  • Clouds seen at sunset from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
    Los Angeles sunset.jpg
  • Scott Clem, a student from Auburn University, fishes for salmon at sunset on the Chilkoot River outlet from Chilkoot Lake near Haines, Alaska. The river offers some of the best salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska, with four salmon runs, starting in mid-June and ending in mid-October. The area is part of the Chilkoot Lake State Recreational Site located at the head of the Lutak Inlet in the Lynn Canal. It is managed by Alaska State Parks. In the upper reaches of the Chilkoot River Valley (not pictured) Alaska Power and Telephone Company (AP&T) proposes to dam the outlet of Connelly Lake, a high alpine lake above the Chilkoot River, for a hydroelectric project. Water from Connelly Lake would be delivered down the mountain to a powerhouse near the Chilkoot River into which the lake water would be discharged. Environmental concerns include the impact construction and project operation would have on fish spawning and rearing habitat (water turbidity issues), and bald eagles. Some of the main features of the proposed Connelly Lake project would be located in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and the Haines State Forest. The Connelly Lake Hydro Aquatic Studies Report for 2012 prepared by the Shipley Group for AP&T states that according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 41 percent of the sockeye salmon in the upper Lynn Canal come from the Chilkoot River with 25 percent of those salmon spawning in the Chilkoot River drainage above Chilkoot Lake. The value of the fishery is estimated at more than $1,000,000 annually. AP&T wants to build the project to replace the undersea cable that supplies Haines with electricity from Skagway.
    Chilkoot River fisherman at sunset 2.jpg
  • Scott Clem, a student from Auburn University, fishes for salmon at sunset on the Chilkoot River outlet from Chilkoot Lake near Haines, Alaska. The river offers some of the best salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska, with four salmon runs, starting in mid-June and ending in mid-October. The area is part of the Chilkoot Lake State Recreational Site located at the head of the Lutak Inlet in the Lynn Canal. It is managed by Alaska State Parks. In the upper reaches of the Chilkoot River Valley (not pictured) Alaska Power and Telephone Company (AP&T) proposes to dam the outlet of Connelly Lake, a high alpine lake above the Chilkoot River, for a hydroelectric project. Water from Connelly Lake would be delivered down the mountain to a powerhouse near the Chilkoot River into which the lake water would be discharged. Environmental concerns include the impact construction and project operation would have on fish spawning and rearing habitat (water turbidity issues), and bald eagles. Some of the main features of the proposed Connelly Lake project would be located in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and the Haines State Forest. The Connelly Lake Hydro Aquatic Studies Report for 2012 prepared by the Shipley Group for AP&T states that according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 41 percent of the sockeye salmon in the upper Lynn Canal come from the Chilkoot River with 25 percent of those salmon spawning in the Chilkoot River drainage above Chilkoot Lake. The value of the fishery is estimated at more than $1,000,000 annually. AP&T wants to build the project to replace the undersea cable that supplies Haines with electricity from Skagway.
    Chilkoot River fisherman at sunset 1.jpg
  • The setting sun sets behind a palm tree at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii. In the background are the remains of an ancient breakwater known as Paokamenehune or menehune breakwater that was built by ancient Hawaiians.
    Palm tree sunset-2.jpg
  • Spectacular sunsets and sunrises attract tourists to the summit area of Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui, Hawaii. In this photo a hiker watches the fading twilight sunlight after sunset near, Pu‘u‘ula‘ula (Red Hill), the highest point on Maui (10,023 ft.). The 33,265 acre park consists of the Summit District and the coastal Kipahulu District. Haleakalā National Park is known for it volcanic features, cinder cones and clear night skies for star gazing. The Haleakalā Volcano of east Maui is considered dormant, having last erupted sometime between 1480 and 1600 AD.
    Sunset, Haleakalā National Park, Ma...jpg
  • Unnamed mountain peaks near Sinclair Mountain in the Kakuhan Range bask in light from the setting sun in this sunset view seen from the Portage Cove harbor in Haines, Alaska. SPECIAL NOTE: DIGITAL COMPOSITE PANORAMA (multiple overlapping images stitched together)
    Sunset on Kakuhan Range mountain pea...jpg
  • The dry remains of the flower heads of aster wildflowers and other prairie grasses and plants light up during a fall sunset at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Fall sunset on tallgrass prairie wil...jpg
  • Mount Crillon of the Fairweather mountain range basks in the light from a late evening sunset in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view seen from Glacier Bay Lodge located in Bartlett Cove of the park in southeast Alaska.
    Mount Crillon sunset.jpg
  • Power lines are bathed in sunset evening light in Chase County in Kansas near the Schrumpf Hill Overlook along Kansas State Highway 177. The highway, a National Scenic Byway travels through the Flint Hills in Kansas. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas.
    Power lines sunset.jpg
  • Snorkler takes in the underwater sights of Kahalu'u Bay at Kahalu'u Beach Park during sunset in Keauhou, Hawaii on the Big Island of Hawaii. The area offers some of the best snorkeling opportunities in the Kona area.
    Sunset snorkeler.jpg
  • Anchored sailboats in Hanalei Bay against a backdrop of the north shore cliffs of the Na Pali coast at sunset on the island of Kauai near the north shore town of Hanalei in Hawaii.
    Hanelai Bay sunset.jpg
  • Swimmers and recreational boaters enjoy the sunset on Hanalei Bay on the island of Kauai near the north shore town of Hanalei in Hawaii.
    Hanelai Bay sunset.jpg
  • Sport fishers on Lake Michigan enter the Pine River channel near the South Pier Lighthouse during sunset at Charlevoix, Michigan. People fish for Salmon, Steelhead, salmon, brown trout and lake trout in the Lake Michigan waters near Charlevoix.
    Charlevoix sport fishers at sunset,.jpg
  • Michigan Beach Park in Charlevoix, Michigan, is a favorite spot for tourists and residents wanting to catch a dramatic sunset. The park, within walking distance of downtown Charlevoix offers a white sand beach, playground swimming and the iconic Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse. Fishing is also popular along the pier at the Pine River entrance.
    Sunset at Michigan Beach Park in Cha...jpg
  • Peaks of the Fairweather Range bask in sunset light in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view seen from Glacier Bay Lodge located in Bartlett Cove of the park in southeast Alaska.
    Fairweather Range sunset.jpg
  • Mount LaPerouse and other peaks of the Fairweather Range basks in the light from a late evening sunset in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view seen from Glacier Bay Lodge located in Bartlett Cove of the park in southeast Alaska.
    Mt. LaPerouse sunset.jpg
  • The setting sun at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii. In the foreground are the remains of an ancient breakwater known as Paokamenehune or menehune breakwater that was built by ancient Hawaiians.
    Paokamenhune sunset.jpg
  • The setting sun sets behind a palm tree at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Palm tree sunset.jpg
  • Clouds seen at sunset from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
    Los Angeles sunset-3.jpg
  • Visitors and locals take in the sunset from English Bay Beach Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. The popular beach, also called First Beach, is located in the most populated beach area in downtown Vancouver. The Stanley Park Seawall, a popular running and biking route, runs along the east side of the beach.
    English Bay Beach Park sunset.jpg
  • The dry remains of the flower heads of aster wildflowers light up during a fall sunset at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Fall sunset on tallgrass prairie ast...jpg
  • The dry remains of the flower heads of aster wildflowers and other prairie grasses and plants light up during a fall sunset at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Fall sunset on tallgrass prairie ast...jpg
  • The dry remains of the flower heads of aster wildflowers and other prairie grasses and plants light up during a fall sunset at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Fall sunset on tallgrass prairie ast...jpg
  • Evening sunset light bathes showy evening primrose in prairie grasses at the 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    showy evening-primrose at sunset.jpg
  • Tukgahgo Mountain, located in the Takshanuk Mountains near Haines Alaska, peeks out from clouds during sunset. The Takshanuk Mountains separate the Chilkat and Chilkoot watersheds.
    Tukgahgo Mountain sunset.jpg
  • The final rays of the sun at sunset baths mountain tops in light as an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry travels down the Chilkoot Inlet of the Lynn Canal in this photo taken just outside Haines, Alaska.
    Alaska ferry and mountain sunset.jpg
  • A giant sun at sunset as seen from the Keauhou Beach Resort next to Kahaluu Beach Park in Keauhou on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Sunset.jpg
  • A humpback whale dives in the Sitakaday Narrows of the main bay of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view at sunset seen from Young Island located in the Beardslee Islands of the park in southeast Alaska. In the near background is Marble Mountain and in the far background is Mt. Abdallah.
    Sitakaday Narrows humpback whale sun...jpg
  • A humpback whale surfaces and dives in the Sitakaday Narrows of the main bay of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view at sunset seen from Young Island located in the Beardslee Islands of the park in southeast Alaska. In the near background is Marble Mountain and in the far background is Mt. Abdallah.
    Sitakaday Narrows humpback whale sun...jpg
  • Sunset over the Kalapana lava viewing site managed by Hawaii County Civil Defense. The lava viewing site on the Big Island of Hawaii is a good spot to see lava from the middle east rift zone of the Kilauea volcano enter the ocean.
    Sunset Kalapana lava viewing.jpg
  • The sun sets on Logger's Lake near Bunker, Mo. Logger’s Lake and Logger’s Lake campground is located deep in the interior forests of Shannon County in the Mark Twain National Forest. The secluded campground, managed by the United States Forest Service consists of 14 campsites around a 22-acre lake known for fishing and non-motorized boating.<br />
<br />
Logger’s Lake was created in 1940 as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project. The CCC provided jobs for people needing work during the Great Depression. The campground and dam were constructed by Local 1730 of the CCC which mostly consisted of residents from Dent and Reynolds counties.
    Sunset on Logger's Lake.jpg
  • The sun sets on Logger's Lake near Bunker, Mo. Logger’s Lake and Logger’s Lake campground is located deep in the interior forests of Shannon County in the Mark Twain National Forest. The secluded campground, managed by the United States Forest Service consists of 14 campsites around a 22-acre lake known for fishing and non-motorized boating.<br />
<br />
Logger’s Lake was created in 1940 as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project. The CCC provided jobs for people needing work during the Great Depression. The campground and dam were constructed by Local 1730 of the CCC which mostly consisted of residents from Dent and Reynolds counties.
    Sunset on Logger's Lake-2.jpg
  • The last ray of sunlight from the setting sun basks on the Sitakaday Narrows in the main bay of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view seen from Young Island located in the Beardslee Islands of the park in southeast Alaska. At left is Marble Mountain, and in the far background is Mount Abdallah.
    Sitakaday Narrows sunset.jpg
  • Haze from recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area hangs over the city in this view from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park.
    Los Angeles sunset.jpg
  • Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) also known as gayfeather is a common sight along the 1.5-mile Gayfeather Trail in the Regal Prairie Natural Area located in Prairie State Park. The park, located near Liberal, Mo. is Missouri’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie. The park’s nearly 4,000 acres is home to bison and elk. Panoramic hillsides of wildflowers such as prairie blazing star, sunflowers, and Indian paintbrush provide a canvas of color. In the fall, prairie grass such as big bluestem and Indian grass may tower as high as 8 feet tall. <br />
<br />
Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 13 million acres of Missouri’s landscape. Today, less than one percent remains. The prairie at Prairie State Park remains because the rocky land was too difficult to plow, which protected it from being farmed. Hiking, animal viewing, camping, birdwatching, and photography are some of the activities that the park affords. <br />
<br />
The Regal Prairie Natural Area is a 240-acre state natural area within the park that is especially noted for its wildflower display. The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Prairie Foundation provided funding for the purchase of much of the park’s acreage. The area was dedicated as a state park in 1982.
    Prairie blazing star at sunset.jpg
  • The historic buildings of the former U.S. Army facility, Fort William H. Seward in Haines, Alaska are dwarfed by Mount Emmerich and other peaks of the Takhinsha Mountains as the setting sun lights up the Chilkat River valley. Haines is a cruise ship destination on the Lynn Canal in southeast Alaska. Cruise ships dock at the pictured Port Chilkoot dock near downtown Haines.
    Fort Seward and Mount Emmerich sunse...jpg
  • The sun dramatically disappears behind clouds above the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Sunset.jpg
  • The last ray of sunlight from the setting sun bask on the Sitakaday Narrows in the main bay of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view seen from Young Island located in the Beardslee Islands of the park in southeast Alaska. At left is Tlingit Peak, in the center is Marble Mountain, and at the right is Willoughby Island. In the far center background is Mount Abdallah.
    Sitakaday Narrows sunset panorama.jpg
  • A lone cottonwood tree stands witness to the setting sun on the rolling hills of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Lone tree at sunset.jpg
  • Unidentified passengers on the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry m/v Malaspina enjoy the scenery of the Lynn Canal as the sun sets behind the Chilkat Range near Haines, Alaska.
    Chilkat Range sunset on the Lynn Can...jpg
  • The sun sets on Muir Inlet and rocks in this image take near the Klotz Hills in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in southeast Alaska.
    Klotz Hills sunset 2.jpg
  • The sun sets on Muir Inlet and rocks in this image take near the Klotz Hills in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in southeast Alaska.
    Klotz Hills sunset 1.jpg
  • The sun dramatically disappears behind clouds above the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Prairie sunset with clouds.jpg
  • Harding Mountain basks in sunlight as the sun sets. Harding Mountain is located across the Lynn Canal from Haines, Alaska. The 90 mile, 2,000 foot deep Lynn Canal is known for its beauty -- magnificent mountains and glaciers. It is the deepest fjord in North American and one of the longest and deepest in the world.
    Harding Mountain sunset.jpg
  • Clouds above a ridge near the Wonder Lake campground reflect the colors of the setting sun.
    Wonder Lake sunset.jpg
  • The sun sets on the mountains of the Chilkat Range as seen from "Picture Point." In the foreground are the buildings of the former U.S. Army fort, Ft. William H. Seward in Haines, Alaska.
    Fort Seward sunset.jpg
  • Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) also known as gayfeather is a common sight along the 1.5-mile Gayfeather Trail in the Regal Prairie Natural Area located in Prairie State Park. The park, located near Liberal, Mo. is Missouri’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie. The park’s nearly 4,000 acres is home to bison and elk. Panoramic hillsides of wildflowers such as prairie blazing star, sunflowers, and Indian paintbrush provide a canvas of color. In the fall, prairie grass such as big bluestem and Indian grass may tower as high as 8 feet tall. <br />
<br />
Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 13 million acres of Missouri’s landscape. Today, less than one percent remains. The prairie at Prairie State Park remains because the rocky land was too difficult to plow, which protected it from being farmed. Hiking, animal viewing, camping, birdwatching, and photography are some of the activities that the park affords. <br />
<br />
The Regal Prairie Natural Area is a 240-acre state natural area within the park that is especially noted for its wildflower display. The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Prairie Foundation provided funding for the purchase of much of the park’s acreage. The area was dedicated as a state park in 1982.
    Prairie blazing star at sunset.jpg
  • Hundreds of unidentified flies hover above a bison (Bison bison) during sunset in the Regal Prairie Natural Area located in Prairie State Park. <br />
<br />
Among the flies that are a pest to bison are horn flies (Haematobia irritans). As many as 500 to 1,500 horn flies will feed on the blood of a bison 20 to 40 times a day.<br />
<br />
Prairie State Park, located near Liberal, Mo. is Missouri’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie. The park’s nearly 4,000 acres is home to bison and elk. Panoramic hillsides of wildflowers such as prairie blazing star, sunflowers, and Indian paintbrush provide a canvas of color. In the fall, prairie grass such as big bluestem and Indian grass may tower as high as 8 feet tall. <br />
<br />
Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 13 million acres of Missouri’s landscape. Today, less than one percent remains. The prairie at Prairie State Park remains because the rocky land was too difficult to plow, which protected it from being farmed. Hiking, animal viewing, camping, birdwatching, and photography are some of the activities that the park affords. <br />
<br />
The Regal Prairie Natural Area is a 240-acre state natural area within the park that is especially noted for its wildflower display. The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Prairie Foundation provided funding for the purchase of much of the park’s acreage. The area was dedicated as a state park in 1982.
    Flies hover above bison.jpg
  • Evening sunset light bathes the skies over the Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse located in the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Kansas Flint Hills. The school, on the National Historic Register of Historic Places, was built on land donated by cattleman Stephen F. Jones. Built in 1882, the one-room school had its first classes in 1884. Typical enrollment was between one to 19 students of all grades. The school was closed in 1930 and restored in 1968 by the Garden Clubs in the Mid-East District of Kansas. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse.jpg
  • Evening sunset light bathes evening primrose and the rolling hills of the 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Evening primrose.jpg
  • A killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca), travels down the Lynn Canal under the shadow of Nun Mountain at sunset. Nun Mountain is near Juneau in southeast Alaska. <br />
<br />
Orcas are an apex species. Their prey depends on if they are local or transient. Local orcas feed primarily on salmon. While transient orcas feed on small marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, porpoises, and the calves of whales.
    Orca near Nun Mountain.jpg
  • A white ibis (Eudocimus albus) lands in a tree  at sunset to roost overnight at the Gatorland alligator breeding marsh and bird sanctuary near Orlando, Florida. The bird sanctuary is the largest and most easily accessible wild wading bird rookery in east central Florida.
    White ibis lands in tree.jpg
  • The South Pier Lighthouse in Charlevoix, Michigan, is a favorite spot for tourists and residents wanting to catch a dramatic sunset. The lighthouse, located on Lake Michigan sits at the entrance of the Pine River Channel which provides access to Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix. The current 41-foot steel structure was built in 1941. From 1885 to 1914 the light was located on a wooden tower on the north pier. In 2005, the U.S. Coast Guard deemed the light as no longer needed and in 2008 transferred the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse to the City of Charlevoix under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
    South Pier Lighthouse.jpg
  • The knife-edged spines of cliffs in Kalalau Valley bask in sunlight at sunset in Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. Continious erosion of the volcano that created Kauai has produced the razor-thin cliffs that are the signature of the Na Pali coast. The view is from the Kalalau Lookout in Kokee State Park on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
    Kalalau Valley.jpg
  • "The Nunatak" reaches up to clouds bathed in sunset light in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in southeast Alaska. The Nunatak is a 1,205 foot glaciated knob located on the east side of the Muir Inlet. The rocks in the foreground are encrusted with blue mussels and rockweed.
    The Nunatak and rockweed.jpg
  • Limestone, like this piece photographed at sunset on the prairie at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Kansas Flint Hills, is a common sight and the reason for the survival of the tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills. Prairie soil is heavily laden with limestone and chert (commonly called flint) making it unsuitable for plowing. This rocky soil, combined with a cycle of wildfires and animal grazing has preserved the tallgrass prairie. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Flint Hills limestone.jpg
  • Waves wash ashore onto beach sand on the shoreline of Wainiha Bay near the Hanalei Colony Resort on the north shore of the island of Kauai in Hawaii at sunset.
    waves.jpg
  • A waterfall cascades down the fluted cliffs in Kalalau Valley at sunset in Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. Continious erosion of the volcano that created Kauai has produced the knife-edged cliffs that are the signature of the Na Pali coast. The view is from the Kalalau Lookout in Kokee State Park on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
    Kalalau Valley.jpg
  • The final rays of the setting sun at sunset bath the tops of the mountains along the Chilkoot Inlet of the Lynn Canal taken just outside Haines, Alaska.
    mountains-3.jpg
  • Death Valley National Park is a favorite for landscape photographers, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Here a photographer is silhouetted against the rising sun at the Mesquite Sand Dunes. The Mesquite Sand Dunes located in Death Valley National Park near Stovepipe Wells, is the largest dune field in the park. While the sand dunes appear tall, the highest dune only rises about 100 feet. The Mesquite Sand Dunes are the easiest sand dunes to visit in Death Valley National Park. Three types of dunes are found in the dune field: crescent, linear, and star shaped. The dune field is named for the Mesquite trees that create hummocks that provide places for wildlife to live.<br />
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Death Valley National Park, located in eastern California near the border with Nevada is one of the hottest spots on earth, holding the hottest recorded air temperature of 134 °F. The Park also is location of the lowest spot in North America, 282 feet below sea level at the vast salt flats at Badwater Basin. At 3.4 million acres, the park is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Death Valley National Park sits between the Panamint Range on the west  and Amargosa Range on the east.
    Silhouetted photographer at sunrise ...jpg
  • Death Valley National Park is a favorite for landscape photographers, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Here photographers are silhouetted against the rising sun at the Mesquite Sand Dunes. The Mesquite Sand Dunes located in Death Valley National Park near Stovepipe Wells, is the largest dune field in the park. While the sand dunes appear tall, the highest dune only rises about 100 feet. The Mesquite Sand Dunes are the easiest sand dunes to visit in Death Valley National Park. Three types of dunes are found in the dune field: crescent, linear, and star shaped. The dune field is named for the Mesquite trees that create hummocks that provide places for wildlife to live.<br />
<br />
Death Valley National Park, located in eastern California near the border with Nevada is one of the hottest spots on earth, holding the hottest recorded air temperature of 134 °F. The Park also is location of the lowest spot in North America, 282 feet below sea level at the vast salt flats at Badwater Basin. At 3.4 million acres, the park is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Death Valley National Park sits between the Panamint Range on the west  and Amargosa Range on the east.
    Silhouetted photographers at sunrise...jpg
  • Death Valley National Park is a favorite for landscape photographers, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Here the sun rises in a blaze of color above the sand at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes located in Death Valley National Park near Stovepipe Wells, is the largest dune field in the park. While the sand dunes appear tall, the highest dune only rises about 100 feet. The Mesquite Sand Dunes are the easiest sand dunes to visit in Death Valley National Park. Three types of dunes are found in the dune field: crescent, linear, and star shaped. The dune field is named for the Mesquite trees that create hummocks that provide places for wildlife to live.<br />
<br />
Death Valley National Park, located in eastern California near the border with Nevada is one of the hottest spots on earth, holding the hottest recorded air temperature of 134 °F. The Park also is location of the lowest spot in North America, 282 feet below sea level at the vast salt flats at Badwater Basin. At 3.4 million acres, the park is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Death Valley National Park sits between the Panamint Range on the west  and Amargosa Range on the east.
    Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes sunrise.jpg
  • A full moon rises above Mount Ernest Gruering and the Herbert Glacier near Juneau, Alaska as the final rays of the sun at sunset baths mountain tops in alpenglow light. The view is from the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry FVF Fairweather as it traveled down the Lynn Canal from Haines.
    Moonrise over Herbert Glacier.jpg
  • A floatplane prepares to takeoff at sunset near the Sapphire Princess cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska.
    Juneau cruise ship dock.jpg
  • Steam rises as lava from middle east rift zone of the Kilauea volcano enters the ocean at sunset near the Kalapana viewing site managed by Hawaii County Civil Defense on the Big Island of Hawaii.
    Kalapana lava viewing-2.jpg
  • The South Pier Lighthouse in Charlevoix, Michigan, is a favorite spot for tourists and residents wanting to catch a dramatic sunset. The lighthouse, located on Lake Michigan sits at the entrance of the Pine River Channel which provides access to Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix. The current 41-foot steel structure was built in 1941. From 1885 to 1914 the light was located on a wooden tower on the north pier. In 2005, the U.S. Coast Guard deemed the light as no longer needed and in 2008 transferred the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse to the City of Charlevoix under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
    South Pier Lighthouse-2.jpg
  • Death Valley National Park is a favorite for landscape photographers, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Here the sun rises in a blaze of color above mountains as seen from the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.<br />
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Death Valley National Park, located in eastern California near the border with Nevada is one of the hottest spots on earth, holding the hottest recorded air temperature of 134 °F. The Park also is location of the lowest spot in North America, 282 feet below sea level at the vast salt flats at Badwater Basin. At 3.4 million acres, the park is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Death Valley National Park sits between the Panamint Range on the west  and Amargosa Range on the east.
    Death Valley sunrise.jpg
  • DIGITAL COMPOSITE PANORAMA (multiple overlapping images stitched together): The final rays of the setting sun at sunset bath the tops of the mountains of along the Chilkoot Inlet of the Lynn Canal taken  just outside Haines, Alaska.
    mountains.jpg
  • The sun sets on fishermen fishing at Richey Cove on Council Grove Lake. Constructed between 1960 and 1964, Council Grove Lake is located one mile north of the town of Council Grove in the Kansas Flint Hills. The 3,310 acre lake, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offers swimming, fishing, water skiing, and other boating activities. Shore activities include camping, hiking, biking, and picnicking. The town of Council Grove is the starting point for the Flint HIlls National Scenic Byway (Kansas State Highway 177) which takes visitors through the rolling hills of the scenic tallgrass prairie of the region. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas.
    Council Grove Lake sunset-2.jpg
  • The sun sets on fishermen fishing at Richey Cove on Council Grove Lake. Constructed between 1960 and 1964, Council Grove Lake is located one mile north of the town of Council Grove in the Kansas Flint Hills. The 3,310 acre lake, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offers swimming, fishing, water skiing, and other boating activities. Shore activities include camping, hiking, biking, and picnicking. The town of Council Grove is the starting point for the Flint HIlls National Scenic Byway (Kansas State Highway 177) which takes visitors through the rolling hills of the scenic tallgrass prairie of the region. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas.
    Council Grove Lake sunset-1.jpg
  • A lone cottonwood tree stands witness to the setting sun on the rolling hills of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Cottonwood tree sunset-1.jpg
  • A lone cottonwood tree stands witness to the setting sun on the rolling hills of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Cottonwood tree sunset-2, Tallgrass ...jpg
  • This 1997 photograph of a sign just outside Cottonwood Falls on Kansas Highway 177 is an example of the controversy that surrounded the formation of the nearby Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, formerly the Z-Bar Ranch. <br />
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Initially, the Flint Hills communities surrounding the proposed park were supportive, but then opposition developed. According to National Park Service document "Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Legislative History, 1920-1996" most local business owners were supportive but many ranchers had overall concerns about federal involvement and federal land ownership with some ranchers specifically concerned about land being lost by eminent domain. The park proposal became a divisive and heated issue between the two community groups.<br />
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In the end, an unique compromise was reached with a public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. Today, the 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.<br />
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According to a National Park Service study, 13,548 non-local visitors in 2013 fueled $849,400 in spending at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and in communities near the park.
    No to tallgrass prairie preserve sig...jpg
  • Ice forms on the Chilkat River as the sun bathes the mountains of Takhin Ridge including Chunekukleik Mountain in early morning sunlight at sunrise. The fog-like layer is blowing dust from the river's silt. During late fall, bald eagles congregate along the Chilkat River to feed on salmon. This gathering of bald eagles in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is believed to be one of the largest gatherings of bald eagles in the world.
    Chilkat River ice sunrise.jpg
  • Chunekukleik Mountain, a peak in the Takhin Ridge is bathed in morning sunrise light in this view seen from the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines, Alaska.
    Chunekukleik Mountain sunrise, Takhi...jpg
  • The moon sets over the Chilkat River during sunrise in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines, Alaska. During late fall, bald eagles congregate along the Chilkat River to feed on salmon. This gathering of bald eagles in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is believed to be one of the largest gatherings of bald eagles in the world. In 1982, the 48,000 acre area was designated as the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
    Setting moon on Chilkat River.jpg
  • The Takhinsha Mountains near Haines, Alaska are bathed in the morning sunlight in this photo taken from the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve along the Chilkat River. Mountains in the Haines area are a popular destination for heli-skiing. SPECIAL NOTE: This image is a panorama composite consisting of multiple overlapping images stitched together.
    Takhinsha Mountains sunrise panorama.jpg
  • A lone cottonwood tree next to the Lower Fox Creek School basks in the sunrise light on a fall morning at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Cottonwood tree sunrise.jpg
  • Prairie grass is silhouetted against a dramatic fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy. silhouetted against a dramatic fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Prairie sunrise 1.jpg
  • Prairie grass is silhouetted against a dramatic fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy. silhouetted against a dramatic fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Prairie sunrise 2.jpg
  • The Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse and a lone cottonwood tree are silhouetted against a clear sky during a fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Lower Fox Creek School sunrise 3.jpg
  • The Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse and a lone cottonwood tree are silhouetted against a clear sky during a fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Lower Fox Creek School sunrise 10.jpg
  • The Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse and a lone cottonwood tree are silhouetted against a clear sky during a fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Lower Fox Creek School sunrise 12.jpg
  • Prairie grasses, wildflowers and a cottonwood tree are bathed in the dawn light moments before a fall sunrise at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy.
    Prairie sunrise 4.jpg
  • A humpback whale engages in "tail slapping" in the Sitakaday Narrows of the main bay of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in this view seen from Young Island located in the Beardslee Islands of the park in southeast Alaska. In the near background is Marble Mountain and in the far background is Mt. Abdallah. It is unknown why whales engage in this behavior but speculation is that it is a way to ward off other whales or the opposite, an invitation to join a group of whales.
    Sitakaday Narrows humback whale tail...jpg
  • The morning sun dramatically rises on the prairie along the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway (Kansas State Highway 177) in the Kansas Flint Hills in Chase County, near the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Less than four percent of the original 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Most of the remaining tallgrass prairie is in the Flint Hills in Kansas.
    Flint Hills prairie sunrise.jpg
  • A late evening rainbow appears before a completely cloud shrouded Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. The view is from the Wonder Lake campground. The visible mountains are the foothills of the Alaska Range.
    Wonder Lake rainbow-2.jpg
  • Morning sunrise light bathes the Lower Fox Creek School, a one-room schoolhouse located in the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The building had been completed in 1882 with the first school semester beginning on September 1, 1884. Average enrollment was between 1-19 students that included all grades. The school was closed in 1930. In 1968 the Garden Clubs in the Mid-East District of Kansas renovated the building. The school is on the National Register of Historic Places. The pictured tree is a cottonwood, the state tree of Kansas. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is the only unit of the National Park Service dedicated to the preservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is co-managed with The Nature Conservancy. The 10,894-acre preserve is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas in Chase County near the towns of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls.
    Lower Fox Creek School-3.jpg
  • Denali (Athabaskan for "The High One") basks in morning light at sunrise in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. The snow and glacier covered mountain, part of the Alaska Range soars to a height of 20,310 feet. Denali is the tallest mountain on the North American continent. Although Mt. Everest is higher, the vertical rise of Denali is greater. This view is a small detail from the north slopes of the mountain seen from Wonder Lake.
    Denali detail.jpg
  • A pair of bald eagles perched in a tree overlooking the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 7,440-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. <br />
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The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
    Pair of bald eagles with setting moo...jpg
  • Snow and ice on the Snow Goose Pool Complex at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 7,440-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. <br />
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The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
    Pond scene, Loess Bluffs NWR-2.jpg
  • A male lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) attempts to entice female lesser prairie-chickens at sunrise with a showy mating display on a lek near the Smoky Valley Ranch in Logan County, Kansas. Prairie chickens return to the same lek year after year to mate. Males will battle each other to have the prime spot on a lek.<br />
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Lesser prairie-chickens are found in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas with about half of the current population living in western Kansas.<br />
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Males have bright yellow eye-combs. During courtship on a lek, males inflate their red esophageal air sacs and hold erect pinnae on each side of the neck. They rapidly stomp their feet making a drumming-like sound. The booming call of lesser-prairie chickens, amplified by the air sacs, can be heard as far as a mile away.
    Lesser prairie-chicken.jpg
  • Bumblebees collect nectar and pollen from prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) also known as gayfeather along the 1.5-mile Gayfeather Trail in the Regal Prairie Natural Area located in Prairie State Park. The park, located near Liberal, Mo. is Missouri’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie. The park’s nearly 4,000 acres is home to bison and elk. Panoramic hillsides of wildflowers such as prairie blazing star, sunflowers, and Indian paintbrush provide a canvas of color. In the fall, prairie grass such as big bluestem and Indian grass may tower as high as 8 feet tall. <br />
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Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 13 million acres of Missouri’s landscape. Today, less than one percent remains. The prairie at Prairie State Park remains because the rocky land was too difficult to plow, which protected it from being farmed. Hiking, animal viewing, camping, birdwatching, and photography are some of the activities that the park affords. <br />
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The Regal Prairie Natural Area is a 240-acre state natural area within the park that is especially noted for its wildflower display. The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Prairie Foundation provided funding for the purchase of much of the park’s acreage. The area was dedicated as a state park in 1982.
    Bumblebees and prairie blazing star-...jpg
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