Last updated: April 14, 2021
Place
Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
Milepost 251.9
Significance:
A remnant of a once large prairie
Amenities
4 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Scenic View/Photo Spot
This overlook features a scenic view of a remnant of the Black Belt Prairie which was part of the vast tall grass Blackland Prairie Region. The 350,000-acre fertile Black Belt Prairie has been interrupted by human development leaving most of the remaining natural sections at only 10-20 acres. The Natchez Trace Parkway is actively protecting and restoring portions of prairie, returning it to a natural grassland that sustains native flowering plants and wildlife.
The calcareous soil underlying the prairie was formed when the ocean receded after eons of depositing the remains of calcium rich shells. The resulting rich soil supported grasses like bluestems, switchgrass, Indian grass, and others. The prairie contained more than grasses. A diverse array of wildflowers, forbs, and legumes, oak forests, short leaf pines, glades and wetlands were common in certain areas depending upon the terrain.
Long ago bison could be found on this prairie along with other common wildlife that still exist here in reduced numbers. Over time, the soil that once supported the lush prairie flora eventually supported the needs of planters who moved into the area. In an effort to sustain their families, the prairie was turned into farmland.
Take a moment, stop and listen. Can you hear the call of the common prairie bird, the bob-white quail? Use your imagination to transport yourself back in time and listen for the bellow of a bull bison.
The calcareous soil underlying the prairie was formed when the ocean receded after eons of depositing the remains of calcium rich shells. The resulting rich soil supported grasses like bluestems, switchgrass, Indian grass, and others. The prairie contained more than grasses. A diverse array of wildflowers, forbs, and legumes, oak forests, short leaf pines, glades and wetlands were common in certain areas depending upon the terrain.
Long ago bison could be found on this prairie along with other common wildlife that still exist here in reduced numbers. Over time, the soil that once supported the lush prairie flora eventually supported the needs of planters who moved into the area. In an effort to sustain their families, the prairie was turned into farmland.
Take a moment, stop and listen. Can you hear the call of the common prairie bird, the bob-white quail? Use your imagination to transport yourself back in time and listen for the bellow of a bull bison.