Pipestone National Monument
MN
-
76.5
Thousand visitors
in 2017 - 4 Total listed species
- $4.4M Visitor spending in 2017
Protected species include:
-
Topeka Shiner
Listed since 1998
-
Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
Listed since 1989
Pipestone National Monument preserves the active quarries where American Indians have extracted red stone for centuries to carve into sacred pipes.
The park also protects an area of tallgrass prairie, which used to be common across the Midwest, as well as notable rock formations and a peaceful 20-foot waterfall.
The tallgrass prairies of Pipestone National Monument provide habitat for plants and animals
that once flourished across the United States. Over 500 species of plants, as well as 25 mammals and 26 fish, are found within the park.
What is the role of the Endangered Species Act?
National parks would not be complete without the animals and plants that call them home. The Endangered Species Act is the most important tool to make sure species vital to the parks are protected for the long term.
