| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 A sandy beach at the Little Sand Bay Visitor Center | |
   | |
| Location | Ashland County and Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States |
| Nearest city | Bayfield, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 46°57′55″N 90°39′51″W / 46.96528°N 90.66417°W |
| Area | 69,372 acres (280.74 km2)[1] |
| Established | September 26, 1970 |
| Visitors | 176,040 (in 2011)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Apostle Islands National Lakeshore |
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a U.S. national lakeshore consisting of 21 islands (Apostle Islands) and shoreline encompassing 69,372 acres (28,074 ha)[1] on the northern tip of Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Superior. It is known for its collection of historic lighthouses, sandstone sea caves, a few old-growth remnant forests, and natural animal habitats. It is featured on the America the Beautiful Quarters series.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is located in Bayfield, Wisconsin, on Lake Superior, the "largest, cleanest, and coldest of the Great Lakes."[3] The lakeshore comprises beaches, cliffs, water, and 21 islands.[4] Madeline Island, with commercial establishments of the town of La Pointe, is the only one of the Apostle Islands not included in the national lakeshore, although a portion of the island is protected as Big Bay State Park.
Ecologically, the islands contain some old growth, but primarily secondary Northern hardwood forest. There are elements of the oak, hickory, and hemlock hardwood forests of the eastern United States, but also features of the Boreal forest typical of Ontario. Larger wildlife on the islands and surrounding area include whitetail deer, black bear, red fox, and coyote. Smaller mammals such as squirrels, beaver, otter, snowshoe hare, and voles are also present. Avian species in the wilderness include waterfowl, ruffed grouse, and woodcock.
- ^ a b "Listing of acreage – December 31, 2011" (XLSX). Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-03-19. (National Park Service Acreage Reports)
- ^ "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
- ^ "Making a Great Lake Superior!" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency. Spring 2005. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
- ^ "Apostle Islands National Lakeshore". National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
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