Gaylord Nelson Wilderness

In 2004, 80% of the land area of Wisconsin's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was designated as federally protected wilderness. The new Wilderness — Wisconsin's largest by far — honors former Wisconsin governor, U.S. senator and founder of Earth Day, Gaylord Nelson. Although many of the 22 Apostle Islands were logged, farmed or quarried in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most of them are currently wild and primitive; 21 of the 22 are included in the National Lakeshore. Hidden within the forests, however, are occasional signs of the islands' human past — encouraging reminders of the regenerative powers of nature. The waters of Lake Superior within the National Lakeshore are not included in the Wilderness, nor are the lighthouses or other existing developed areas of the park. Sand, Basswood and Long Islands were kept out of the Wilderness boundary in their entirety, along with the park's 12-mile mainland strip. The beauty of the islands is enhanced by the area's geology. Colorful Precambrian sandstone has eroded into interesting cliff formations, including sea caves, and there is a highly diverse collection of sandscapes — sandspits, cuspate forelands, tombolos, a barrier spit and numerous beaches — among the most pristine left in the Great Lakes region. The lakeshore is at the continental northwestern limits of the hemlock-white-pine-northern hardwood forest and also contains elements of the boreal forest. Game species include whitetail deer, black bear, snowshoe hare, waterfowl, woodcock and ruffed grouse. Other fur-bearers include red fox, coyote, beaver and otter, and small mammals — shrews, mice, voles, red squirrels and chipmunks — are an important component of the lakeshore's terrestrial fauna.