Two Top and Big Top Mesa

Two Top and Big Top Mesa

Map of North Dakota

Location Billings County, North Dakota
Coordinates 47°18′08″N 103°29′16″W / 47.30222°N 103.48778°W / 47.30222; -103.48778Coordinates: 47°18′08″N 103°29′16″W / 47.30222°N 103.48778°W / 47.30222; -103.48778
Area 14 acres (5.7 ha)
Designated 1965

Two Top and Big Top Mesa are two adjacent mesas about one mile (1.6 km) apart in western North Dakota. They were declared National Natural Landmarks in 1965.[1] The tops of the mesas are rare examples of undisturbed grassland which have never been grazed or cultivated. They are located in or around the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

Geology

Big Top mesa is approximately 12 acres (4.9 ha) while Two Top is around 2 acres (0.81 ha). They rise about 400 feet (120 m) above the badlands. They are made of sandstone, Morton silt loam and clay.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 "National Natural Landmark designation". National Park Service. June 25, 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Quinnild, Clayton L; Hugh E. Cosby (1958). "Relics of Climax Vegetation on Two Mesas in Western North Dakota". 39. Ecological Society of America: 29–32. JSTOR 1929963.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.