Big Oak Tree State Park
| Big Oak Tree State Park | |
| Missouri State Park | |
 Boardwalk trail through Big Oak Tree State Park | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Missouri |
| County | Mississippi |
| Elevation | 289 ft (88 m) [1] |
| Coordinates | 36°38′46″N 89°18′18″W / 36.64611°N 89.30500°WCoordinates: 36°38′46″N 89°18′18″W / 36.64611°N 89.30500°W [1] |
| Area | 1,028.68 acres (416 ha) [2] |
| Established | 1938 [3] |
| Management | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| IUCN category | III - Natural Monument |
  Location in Missouri
| |
| Website: Big Oak Tree State Park | |
| Designated | May 1986 |
Big Oak Tree State Park is a state-owned nature preserve with recreational features encompassing 1,029 acres (416 ha) in East Prairie, Missouri, United States. The state park was established in a large expanse of drained cropland in 1938 to protect some of the largest trees in the state and in the nation.[4] The park was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1986, recognized as a rare, untouched wet-mesic bottomland hardwood forest in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain.[5]
List of champion trees
Big Oak Tree State Park is the home of many current and past state and national champion trees—trees that are, for their species, the largest in the state or in the nation.
| Champion Trees | Circumference | Height | Spread | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin Ash | 118" | 150' | 77' | 357 | Alive |
| Rusty Blackhaw | 48" | 29" | 25' | 83 | Alive |
| Eastern Cottonwood | 288" | 114' | 76' | 421 | Died 1976 |
| Slippery Elm | 264" | 115' | 60' | 394 | Died 1979 |
| Shumard Oak | 205" | 134' | 86' | 361 | Died 1997 |
| Bur Oak | 229" | 154' | 92' | 406 | Alive |
| Swamp Chestnut Oak | 272" | 156' | 104' | 454 | Alive |
| Pawpaw | 24" | 39' | 26' | 70 | Died 1980 |
| Persimmon | 97" | 133' | 45' | 241 | Alive |
| Possumhaw | 14" | 21' | 30' | 42 | Alive |
| Swamp Privet | 26" | 28' | 31' | 62 | Died 1959 |
| Black Willow | 148" | 113' | 69' | 278 | Alive |
Activities and amenities
The park has two trails for hiking through the forest, including an accessible boardwalk trail, plus an interpretive center along the boardwalk and picnicking facilities.[4]
References
- 1 2 "Big Oak Tree State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ↑ "State parks...estimated acres" (PDF). Revised Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: 2008-2012. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. pp. 142–143. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- ↑ "General Information: Big Oak Tree State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- 1 2 "Big Oak Tree State Park". Missouri State Parks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Big Oak Tree". National Natural Landmarks Program. National Park Service. June 28, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Oak Tree State Park. |
- Big Oak Tree State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- Big Oak Tree State Park Map Missouri Department of Natural Resources