Swift River Reservation
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Swift River Reservation
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 Information board at the entrance to the protected area |
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| location | Massachusetts , United States | |
| surface | 178 ha | |
| WDPA ID | 55554506 | |
| Geographical location | 42 ° 28 ' N , 72 ° 10' W | |
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| Setup date | 1983 | |
| administration | The Trustees of Reservations | |
Swift River Reservation is a 435 acres (1.8 km² ) nature reserve near the city of Petersham in the state of Massachusetts in the United States . It is managed by The Trustees of Reservations organization.
history
In the late 18th century, a large part of the area of today's protected area was cleared in order to gain agricultural land , which was mainly operated as a subsistence economy . With the increasing demand for natural raw materials from the surrounding industries in later years, the forest was almost completely cleared. The tree growth did not return until the early 20th century, but was severely damaged again by a hurricane in 1938. The current stock of hardwoods and Weymouth pines is from the time after the storm. The trustees acquired the property in two steps in 1983 and 1985. On the occasion of their centenary, they were given additional areas anonymously.
Protected area
The sanctuary consists of the three separate areas Nichewaug Tract , Slab City Tract and Davis Tract , which are connected by the eastern branch of the eponymous Swift River - the largest tributary of the Quabbin Reservoir . The varied terrain favors a great variety of plants and animals. In particular, there live deer , beaver , raccoon , Ursons , bears , bobcats and coyotes and a variety of songbirds , owls and birds of prey . The river bank is lined with pine and hemlock trees that make the river a popular destination for trout fishing .
A total of 7 mi (11.3 km ) of hiking trails are available to visitors. The North Common Meadow and Brooks Woodland Preserve are also nearby .
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ Property History. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed July 11, 2014 .
- ↑ About Swift River Reservation. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed July 11, 2014 .
Web links
- Swift River Reservation. ( PDF ) The Trustees of Reservations, September 2010, accessed on July 11, 2014 (English, map of the area).
- Swift River Reservation on TripAdvisor
