| Bixby State Preserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 Ice Cave at Bixby State Preserve | |
  Location in Iowa Show map of Iowa Location in United States Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Clayton County,IA |
| Nearest city | Edgewood, IA |
| Area | 185 acres (75 ha) |
| Governing body | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
Bixby State Preserve is anature reserve located in southwesternClayton County, Iowa, in themidwestern United States. It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north ofEdgewood. It is operated by theIowa Department of Natural Resources as one of theIowa state preserves.
Bixby State Preserve is one of the few places in the world to containalgific talus slopes and consequently has an ecosystem encountered in only a few other sites, all in theDriftless Area. They are mainly elsewhere in Iowa, but also in southeasternMinnesota, southwesternWisconsin and northwesternIllinois.
In winter and early spring comparatively warm air rises from the elaborate system ofsinkholes, causing cold moist air to be drawn into the north-facing talus slopes and sent through fissures intoice caves, where it turns to ice on the walls of the cave. In summer and fall, the system is reversed, with cool moist air venting to the talus slopes, creating a unique ecosystem.
The only road into the preserve is closed on both the north and south sides of the preserve as of June 7, 2013. The south entrance is open during the summer. Trout fishing is allowed.
42°40′N91°24′W / 42.67°N 91.40°W /42.67; -91.40
.jpg) | This article about acave in theUnited States is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
