Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Map of the United States
LocationMississippi County, Arkansas, United States
Nearest cityManila, Arkansas
Coordinates35°55′N 90°07′W / 35.917°N 90.117°W / 35.917; -90.117
Area11,047 acres (44.71 km2) (2014)[1]
Established1915
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteBig Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge is an 11,047-acre (45 km2) National Wildlife Refuge located in Mississippi County, Arkansas, managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Manila, Arkansas, and consists mostly of a shallow lake, swamp, and bottomland hardwood forests. The preservation of habitat for waterfowl in an intensely agricultural region is the primary purpose of the refuge. 6,400 acres (20 km2) of Big Lake was named a National Natural Landmark. 2,144 acres (8 km2) are designated as wilderness.[2]

Map of Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.
The refuge features old-growth bald cypress forests.
  1. ^ "Statistical Data Tables" http://www.fws.gov/refuges/land/PDF/2014_Annual_Report_of_LandsDataTables.pdf, accessed 10 Jan 2015
  2. ^ "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-20. Year designated: 1974