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The '''Flint Hills''' is a group of hills, mostly located in eastern [[Kansas]]. They are believed to have been formed by the [[erosion]]  of [[limestone]] and [[shale]] during the [[Permian Period]] about 250 million years ago. <ref>[http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/flinthills/flinthills.html] GeoKansas - Flint Hills</ref> The land is not particularly suited for farming, so tallgrass prairie makes up much of the Flint Hills. Many people want to preserve this, as it is one of the last remaining such areas in the [[United States]], and this has led to controversy as some developers want to build wind turbines in the Flint Hills. An example of an environmental activist group opposing this is Protect the Flint Hills. <ref>[http://www.protecttheflinthills.org/] Protect the Flint Hills</ref>

The '''Flint Hills''' is a group of hills, mostly located in eastern [[Kansas]]. They are believed to have been formed by the [[erosion]]  of [[limestone]] and [[shale]] during the [[Permian Period]] about 250 million years ago. <ref>[http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/flinthills/flinthills.html] GeoKansas - Flint Hills</ref> The land is not particularly suited for farming, so tallgrass prairie makes up much of the Flint Hills. Many people want to preserve this, as it is one of the last remaining such areas in the [[United States]], and this has led to controversy as some developers want to build wind turbines in the Flint Hills. An example of an environmental activist group opposing this is Protect the Flint Hills. <ref>[http://www.protecttheflinthills.org/] Protect the Flint Hills</ref> The idea of the Flint Hills being a target for environmental protection is not new - legislation was passed in 1996 creating the Tallgrass Prairie National Reserve near Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. <ref>

The Flint Hills are very biologically diverse. [[Kansas]] has hundreds of species of wildflowers and birds, many of which can be found in the Flint Hills. Dozens of [[butterfly]] species can also be found there, along with a myriad of other types of animals. Although [[bison]] are not as abundant as they used to be, they can still be observed in this area at the Maxwell Refuge, about 60 miles north of [[Wichita]]. <ref>[http://www.naturalkansas.org/FlintHills.htm#Fauna] NaturalKansas.org - the Abundant Flint Hills</ref>

The Flint Hills are very biologically diverse. [[Kansas]] has hundreds of species of wildflowers and birds, many of which can be found in the Flint Hills. Dozens of [[butterfly]] species can also be found there, along with a myriad of other types of animals, and over 400 plant species <ref>[http://www.nps.gov/tapr/naturescience/index.htm]Tallgrass Prairie National Reserve - National Park Service</ref>. Although [[bison]] are not as abundant as they used to be, they can still be observed in this area at the Maxwell Refuge, about 60 miles north of [[Wichita]]. <ref>[http://www.naturalkansas.org/FlintHills.htm#Fauna] NaturalKansas.org - the Abundant Flint Hills</ref>

 

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[[Category:Geography]]

[[Category:Geography]]