The National Natural Landmarks (NNLs) in Florida include 18 of the almost 600 such landmarks in the United States. They cover areas of geological, biological and historical importance, and include springs, swamps, marshes and seashore. Several of the sites provide habitat for rare or endangered plant and animal species. The landmarks are located in 14 of the state's 67 counties. Four counties each contain all or part of two or more NNLs, while two landmarks is split between two counties. The first designation, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, was made in 1964, while the most recent designation, Archbold Biological Station, was made in 1987.[1] Natural Landmarks in Florida range from 593to in size. Owners include private individuals and several state and federal agencies.[2]
The National Natural Landmarks Program is administered by the National Park Service, a branch of the Department of the Interior. The National Park Service determines which properties meet NNL criteria and, after notifying the owners, makes nomination recommendations. The Secretary of the Interior reviews nominations and, based on a set of predetermined criteria, makes a decision on NNL designation or a determination of eligibility for designation. Both public and privately owned properties can be designated as NNLs. Owners may object to the nomination of the property as a NNL.[3] This designation provides indirect, partial protection of the historic integrity of the properties via tax incentives, grants, monitoring of threats, and other means.[4]
| Name | Image | Date | Location | County | Ownership | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands | Private | Protects the largest undisturbed tract of the Lake Wales Ridge. | ||||
| Collier | State | A part of Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, it features the largest grove of royal palm trees in the country. | ||||
| Collier | State, private | Contains the nation's largest remaining virgin strand of bald cypress trees. | ||||
| Alachua | State | A karst dry sinkhole located within the eponymous state park. | ||||
| Lake, Marion | State, private | This inland freshwater sawgrass marsh is also a popular birding area. | ||||
| Jackson | State | Eponymous state park protects Florida's only publicly accessible cave. Winter home of the endangered Indiana bat. | ||||
| Columbia, Suwannee | State | Artesian spring, the state's third largest, included in eponymous state park. | ||||
| Monroe | State | Located in an eponymous state park, contains the best preserved tropical hammock forest in the country. | ||||
| Levy | State | An eponymous state park surrounds the state's sixth largest artesian spring. | ||||
| 30.2906°N -82.3217°W | Baker | Federal | Isolated mixed hardwood forest featuring virgin bald cypress strands. A portion of Osceola National Forest. | |||
| Alachua | State, private | Freshwater marsh in one of the state's largest sinks. Majority of the site included in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. | ||||
| State | Florida's second largest artesian spring. Part of an eponymous state park. | |||||
| Federal | A part of Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, protects the largest undisturbed stretch of Florida's Atlantic coast. A nesting site of the loggerhead turtle. | |||||
| Alachua | State, private | Mainly located in San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, contains a diverse forest environment. | ||||
| Marion | Private | Eponymous state park surrounds the state's largest artesian spring. | ||||
| Liberty | State | Steep ravines cut through this eponymous state park. Home of endangered plants such as the Florida yew. | ||||
| Levy | State | Brackish mangrove protected in an eponymous state park. | ||||
| Wakulla | State | Located in Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, includes the state's deepest artesian spring. | ||||