REYNOLDS                       168 St. Francois Mountains

St. Francois Mountains Natural Area

A 7,028-acre area that includes all of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Proffit Mountain Conservation Area, and 80 acres of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park in Sections 1, 2, 10-12, 14, 15, 33, T33N, R2E, and Sections 5-8, 18, 19, T33N, R3E, Johnson's Shut-Ins 7.5 min., and Ironton 7.5 min. topographic map. Designated August 16, 1996.

Natural Features--St. Francois Mountains natural area includes parts of seven igneous knobs of the St. Francois Mountains. Many unique natural terrestrial communities are found here, as well as rare/endangered plants and animals, geologic features, and aquatic faunal communities. The area contains the greatest concentration of high quality features known on public land in the region, including outstanding igneous glade/savanna complexes, geologic features, and an Ozark headwater stream recognized as an Outstanding State Resource Water (OSRW). The collared lizard and ribbed sedge are known from the area, as well as five other state-listed species. The Precambrian igneous and Cambrian sedimentary rock exposures show the evolution of Ozark geologic history more completely than any other natural site in the vicinity, and the area hosts exposures of some of the oldest rocks (over 2 billion years) in the mid-continent region. Located on the eastern end of the natural area, Taum Sauk Mountain has an elevation of 1772 feet, and is the highest point in the state. Mina Sauk Falls is recognized as the highest wet-weather waterfall in Missouri, with a drop of 132 feet in cascades, the main cascade dropping nearly 105 feet. The area is owned by the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation. For further information contact the Park Superintendent, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, HC Route 1, Box 126, Middlebrook, MO 63656, phone 573/546-2450; or the District Forester, Clearwater Forest District, Route 1, (Hwy 34), Box 1002, Piedmont, MO 63957, phone 573/223-4525.

Mina Sauk Falls at Taum Sauk State Park

Igneous glades