Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Alabama preserves a sensitive karst landscape of caves, sinkholes, groundwater, grasslands, and recovering forest along the Tennessee River. Established on January 3, 1997, after pollution in the aquifer beneath Key Cave and Collier Cave was linked to nearby farming, it protects habitat for the endangered Alabama cavefish, endangered crayfish, and about 40,000 endangered gray bats. The refuge also supports notable grassland birds and is restoring land damaged by intensive agriculture through replanting and habitat conversion. Public access is limited to trails and nearby bat-viewing areas because the caves and water system are highly vulnerable.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Tuscumbia, Alabama · USA