Natural Features of the Preserve
Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve offers a unique combination
of three types of natural communities: prairie, savanna and
wetland. Prairie is a stable, self-perpetuating community of
grasses and forbs (flowering plants). Adapted to fire and
drought, these perennial plants live for decades and have
intricate interwoven root systems often reaching depths of
ten to twelve feet. A square meter of prairie sod may contain
dozens of different species. The rich soil of Illinois was
created by this vast and complex prairie vegetation.Savanna,
a distinctive combination of grassland and forest, is
considered one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world.
Also known as an oak opening, it is more sunlit than a forest
and more shaded than a prairie. Wetlands are low, slowly
draining areas that retain water at least part of the year.
They filter and store flood water, recharge groundwater, and
sustain a habitat for rapidly dwindling species dependent upon
a wet environment.
Welcome! Wolf Road Prairie Virtual Tour
Return to Cover of Virtual Tour
List of Species Featured in the Virtual Tour