Wetland in Cook County named Minnesota's newest Scientific and Natural Area

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that it had acquired 25 acres of wetland in Cook County that it is designating as Minnesota's newest Scientific and Natural Area (SNA).

The department revealed Friday it was naming the land – located about 11 miles northeast of Grand Marais – the Icelandic Coastal Fen Scientific and Natural Area, with the area including ancient and rare geologic wetland features.

SNAs protect Minnesota's remaining rare species, native prairies, old-growth forests and geologic features. They also provide opportunities for education, photography, nature observation, and scientific research.

The new SNA has one of only two known fens on coastal wetlands on Lake Superior's North Shore. The DNR explains that a fen is a grassy or shrubby wetland which is fed by slow-moving groundwater.

The site also contains a tamarack-alder swamp, a small spruce-fir woodland, and about three-quarters of a mile of shoreline and cobble beach.

The unusual geological findings are also a highlight of this area. John Green, Ph. D., professor emeritus in geology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, says the bedrock at this site is a volcanic lava rock called Icelandic.

Judy Elbert, SNA program supervisor, said the new SNA is "exceptional."

"We don't have anything like it protected in the state," Elbert said. "The SNA is unique for its ecological and geological features."

An event will be held September 7 to celebrate the new SNA, with guest speakers and a guided walk through the site. The event will start at 1 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.