Piney Woods Ecoregion
Jacob salazar, 5th period, Mrs. Mackey
Location and Details
The piney woods ecoregion is located along the eastern border of texas including Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The piney woods covers about 54,400 square miles making the biodiversity very large. There is an average of about 60 inches of rain per year. Some of the native plants found there are Sweetgums, American elm, southern sugar maple spanish moss and much more. There are many different animals such as White Tailed Deer, American Alligators and Prairie Kingsnakes. The climate is typically fair and in high temperatures throughout most of the year.
Piney Woods State and National Parks
Big Thicket National Preserve
Established in 1974 to help protect many plant and animal species. The area includes about 109,085 acres of land.
Crater of Diamonds State park
The Crater of Diamonds state park was established in 1972. It got its name by people continuously discovering diamonds. It is now a major tourist attraction as it covers 911 acres of land.
Cane Creek State Park
Cane Creek includes 2,053 acres including the world's longest bayou. There is many recreational activities such as kayaking, hiking, geocaching and much, much more.
Lakes and Rivers of the Pines
Trinity River
At 710 miles long and borders the Red River is a great place to go for canoeing and fishing.
Lake O' the Pines
Lake o' the pines is a great place to rent out a beach house and relax while fishing. It has a temperate climate and very relaxing surroundings, so it's perfect for getting away from the hassle of the city.
Sabine River
Having an abundant amount of rainfall and stretching about 510 miles in length, the Sabine river is the perfect place for people who like the river.
Historical Background
The Boom in Lumber
The Piney Woods were mostly uninhabited until the mid 19th century. In 1860, there were reportedly 200 saw mills in texas. The construction of railroads lead to the boom in lumber production in the 1880's, by 1907 it was the third largest lumber producer in the country. In the 1933 the great depression devastated the industry.
The Stone Fort Museum
Although its name is the stone fort, it was used as a saloon, jail, church, trading post and a private home but never a fort. It was destroyed and rebuilt three separate times and is still standing today.