Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota was established in 1938 as a breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Covering 42,724 acres in glacial lake country northeast of Detroit Lakes, it has a remarkably varied landscape of forested hills, lakes, rivers, marshes, bogs, and shrub swamps. The refuge lies in a major transition zone where northern hardwood forest, conifer forest, and tallgrass prairie meet, creating an unusual diversity of habitats for both woodland and prairie species. Named for the tamarack, a deciduous conifer, it also includes a visitor center and a 14-mile segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail open year-round to hikers.