Mississippi Palisades State Park is a
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best e ...
located in
Carroll County,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
, just north of the town of
Savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) biome and ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach th ...
. It is a partially conserved section of the Mississippi Palisades. The area contains many caves and large cliffs along the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
at the mouth of the
Apple River in the
Driftless Area
The Driftless Area, also known as Bluff Country and the Paleozoic Plateau, is a topographic and cultural region in the Midwestern United States that comprises southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the extreme ...
of far northwestern Illinois.
In popular culture
Indie music artist
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens ( ; born July 1, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released ten solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nomina ...
made reference to the Palisades in his song "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!" on his 2005 concept album ''
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
''.
See also
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List of National Natural Landmarks in Illinois
Gallery
File:Mississippi River near Savanna Illinois with Railroad Train Oct 4 2015.JPG, Mississippi River view from Mississippi Palisades State Park near Savanna Illinois. Railroad freight train in the scene. BNSF line
References
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External links
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Mississippi Palisades State Parkat USNPS
A Guide to Hiking Mississippi Palisades State Park
1973 establishments in Illinois
National Natural Landmarks in Illinois
Protected areas established in 1973
Protected areas of Carroll County, Illinois
Protected areas on the Mississippi River
State parks of Illinois
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