Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma, established in 1930, protects an unusual Great Plains landscape of salt flat, open water, and vegetated habitat along Great Salt Plains Lake. Created for migratory waterfowl, it now supports hundreds of bird species, dozens of mammals, critical habitat for the endangered whooping crane, and one of the Western Hemisphere’s most important shorebird areas. The plains were long significant to Native peoples, especially the Osage, and later appeared in U.S. exploration and treaty history. Notable features include Ralstin Island’s large nesting colonies and a rare selenite crystal area. World War II military use also left remains on the site.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Nescatunga, Oklahoma · USA