Editing Edge of Appalachia Preserve

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{{Infobox protected area
| name = Edge of Appalachia Preserve
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| location = [[Adams County, Ohio]]
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| established = 1959
| governing_body =The Nature Conservancy, Cincinnati Museum Center
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|area={{convert|20000|acre|ha}}}}
'''Edge of Appalachia Preserve''', also known as '''Richard and Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve System''' or simply '''The Edge''',<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Edge of Appalachia Preserve System |url=https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/edge-of-appalachia-preserve-system/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The Nature Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref> is a series of ten adjacent nature preserves located along the [[Portage Escarpment|Appalachian Escarpment]] in [[Adams County, Ohio|Adams County]], [[Ohio]]. Four of the ten preserves, [[Lynx Prairie]], [[Buzzardroost Rock]], [[Red Rock Preserve|Red Rock]] and [[The Wilderness (preserve)|The Wilderness]], are [[National Natural Landmark]]s. The Preserve is owned and operated by [[The Nature Conservancy]] and [[Cincinnati Museum Center]]. It is the largest privately owned nature preserve in Ohio.

== History ==
The area encompassing the Edge of Appalachia Preserve was first studied by ecologist [[Emma Lucy Braun]] in the 1920s. However, it was not until 1959 when the Nature Conservancy purchased 42 acres (170,000 m<sup>2</sup>) near Lynx, Ohio that the Edge of Appalachia Preserve was created and established as a protected preserve.

== Biodiversity ==
The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is among the most biologically assorted areas in the [[Midwestern United States]]. The preserve is predominantly wooded with over 13,000 acres (53&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of forestland. Over 100 rare species of animals and plants are found within the preserve.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040907031735/http://www.savecincymuseum.org/cmc/collection/living_collection.html Richard & Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve]. Cincinnati Museum Center. Archived 7 September 2004.</ref> The Edge of Appalachia Preserve contains 30 ecological communities, eight of which are classified as rare throughout the world. Among its rare plants are the [[Canby's mountain lover]] and the northern [[white cedar]]. The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is also home to the rare [[green salamander]] and [[Allegheny woodrat]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Carrie Blackmore |date=2023-06-23 |title=The Edge of Appalachia Preserve Is Fighting For The Little Guys |url=https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/our-local-ecology-2023/the-edge-of-appalachia-preserve-is-fighting-for-the-little-guys/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Cincinnati Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Over 1,200 plant species grow in the preserve.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-02-01 |title=Exploring Ohio's Edge of Appalachia |url=https://www.midwestliving.com/travel/ohio/exploring-ohios-edge-of-appalachia/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Midwest Living |language=en}}</ref>

The preserve has over 27 miles of hiking on five trails, including [[Buzzardroost Rock Trail]], the Wilderness Trail, and the Lynx Prairie Trail.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adams County, Ohio Travel Information |url=https://m.adamscountytravel.org/theedgeofappalachiapreservesystem.asp |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=m.adamscountytravel.org}}</ref>

==Buzzardroost Rock Trail==
{{Infobox trail
|name=Buzzardroost
|image=<!--Don't confuse image with the trail in southern Indiana-->
|difficulty=Moderate
|length_mi=2.2
|title=Hiking trail
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'''Buzzardroost Rock Trail''', also known as '''Christian and Emma Goetz Buzzardroost Rock Trail''', is a hiking trail in the preserve in [[Adams County, Ohio]].<ref name=":0a">{{Cite web |title=Buzzardroost Rock Preserve |url=https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/edge-of-appalachia-buzzardroost-rock-trail/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=The Nature Conservancy |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622032414/https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/edge-of-appalachia-buzzardroost-rock-trail/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is located in the [[Appalachian Mountains]] and has a length of {{convert|2.2|mi}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buzzards Roost Rock Trail Hiking Trail, West Union, Ohio |url=https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7009820/buzzards-roost-rock-trail |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Hiking Project |archive-date=2023-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622032426/https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7009820/buzzards-roost-rock-trail |url-status=live }}</ref> It is part of the Buzzard Roost Nature Reserve.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buzzard Roost Nature Preserve |url=http://www.naturalohioadventures.com/buzzard-roost-nature-preserve.html |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Natural Ohio Adventures |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622032414/http://www.naturalohioadventures.com/buzzard-roost-nature-preserve.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Buzzard's Roost |url=https://rosscountyparkdistrict.com/buzzards-roost/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Ross County Parks District {{!}} Parks {{!}} Ross County, Ohio |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622032415/https://rosscountyparkdistrict.com/buzzards-roost/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

At the end of the trail is a viewing point and boards with information about the trail.<ref name=":0a" />

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/edge-of-appalachia-preserve-system/ Edge of Appalachia Preserve] at Nature Conservancy
* [https://www.cincymuseum.org/nature/ Richard & Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve] at Cincinnati Museum Center
* [http://hikingohioparks.com/edge-of-appalachia-preserve-hiking-ohio-parks.html Hiking information] at Hiking Ohio Parks
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140301134732/http://www.americanbyways.com/nature/edge-of-appalachia/ Edge of Appalachia Preserve] at American Byways

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[[Category:Nature reserves in Ohio]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Adams County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Nature Conservancy preserves]]


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