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{{Short description|State forest in Florida, United States}}
{{Infobox Protected area▼
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
| name = Lake George State Forest
| alt_name =
| photo = Lake George State Forest Welcome Sign.jpg
| photo_alt = Lake George State Forest welcome sign
| photo_caption = Welcome sign near the community of [[Volusia, Florida]]
| photo_width =
| location = [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]], [[Florida]]▼
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▲| location = [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]], [[Florida]], United States
| nearest_city = [[DeLand, Florida|DeLand]] or [[Pierson, Florida|Pierson]] <small>(town)</small>
| coordinates = {{coord|29.15546|N|81.4389|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area =
| established =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services|Florida Department of Agriculture <br />and Consumer Services]], <br />Florida Forest Service
| world_heritage_site =
| website =
}}
The '''Lake George State Forest''' is a designated [[Protected areas of the United States|protected area]] and [[state forest]] in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Florida]]. The {{convert|
Lake George State Forest is divided into three tracts of land. The northernmost Astor Tract stretches roughly from a point between Pierson and Lake George south to [[Florida State Road 40|State Road 40]] east of the Volusia settlement. South of SR 40 are the Mary Farms and Dexter Tracts, which encompasses land between the [[St. Johns River]] to the west, and Barberville, [[U.S. Route 17 in Florida|US 17]], and [[De Leon Springs State Park]] to the east, and south to the banks of Lake Dexter, Spring Garden Creek, and the [[Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge]].<ref name=DOF/>
==References and external links==▼
Lake George State Forest should not be confused with the Lake George Forest, a separate {{convert|7858|acres|ha|0|sing=on}} property to the immediate north which is jointly owned by Volusia County and the [[St. Johns River Water Management District]] (''SJRWMD''),<ref>[http://www.sjrwmd.com/recreationguide/lakegeorge2/index.html "Recreation Guide to District Lands: Lake George Forest".] [http://www.sjrwmd.com/ ''St. Johns River Water Management District''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221300/https://www.sjrwmd.com/ |date=September 30, 2019 }}. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref> or the Lake George Conservation Area, a {{convert|11973|acres|ha|0|sing=on}} site owned by the SJRWMD.<ref>[http://www.sjrwmd.com/recreationguide/lakegeorge1/index.html "Recreation Guide to District Lands: Lake George Conservation Area".] [http://www.sjrwmd.com/ ''St. Johns River Water Management District''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221300/https://www.sjrwmd.com/ |date=September 30, 2019 }}. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref>
{{Protected Areas of Florida}}▼
== History ==
Prior to European settlement, the area had for thousands of years been the home to Native American tribes like the extinct [[Timucua]]. They left behind a rich archaeological history in the form of large [[midden]]s of freshwater shellfish, which they deposited along the banks of the St. Johns River and Lake George. The Bluffton Mound and [[Midden]] at the Bluffton Recreation Area in Lake George State Forest is one such example.<ref name=DOF/>
Lake George State Forest is formed from lands previously resourced for timber, production of naval stores, cattle grazing, and hunting. [[Taxodium distichum|Cypress]] logging, by way of canals dug into the swampland, occurred up until 1910. The 1930s saw much of the land forested with [[longleaf pine|longleaf]] and [[slash pine]], or left in service of the [[Florida cracker]] cattle industry. After decades of aggressive harvesting, the 1960s saw [[reforestation]] efforts again plant slash pine.<ref name=DOF/>
[[Category:Florida state forests]]▼
Dry conditions brought on by severe drought led to massive wildfires in 1998, which left close to half of the forest charred and damaged. After efforts to salvage the area's timber, restoration again involved planting of pine seedlings.<ref name=DOF/>
== Natural features ==
[[Image:Idle Speed No Wake - St. Johns River.jpg|thumb|left|Lake George State Forest seen from across the St. Johns River in [[Astor, Florida|Astor]].]]
Lake George State Forest is named for [[Lake George (Florida)|Lake George]], the largest lake in Florida after [[Lake Okeechobee]], and the largest lake of the [[St. Johns River]] system. The river itself bounds a {{convert|3.5|mi}} section of the forest, offering both a vibrant ecology and a wealth of recreation opportunities. The forest and associated wetlands are located within the Lake George watershed, and as such, serve as an important aquifer recharge area.<ref name=DOF/>
The arboreal composition of the Lake George State Forest is primarily longleaf and slash pines, with bald cypress and other bottomland hardwood hammocks found in lowland deposits and along the floodplain.<ref name=DOF/>
Lake George State Forest is part of two [[Wildlife Management Area]]s (''WMA'') managed through the [[Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]]. The forest's two southern tracts form the Dexter/Mary Farms Unit WMA,<ref name=WMA>[http://myfwc.com/Recreation/WMASites_LakeGeorgeDexterMaryFarmsUnit_index.htm "Lake George Dexter/Mary Farms Unit".] ''[[Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]]''. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref> while the Astor Tract is grouped with adjacent land (like SJRWMD's and Volusia County's Lake George Forest and Conservation Area) to form the Lake George WMA.<ref>[http://myfwc.com/Recreation/WMASites_LakeGeorge_index.htm "Lake George WMA".] ''[[Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]]''. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref> The WMAs of Lake George State Forest are part of a network of protected lands forming a [[wildlife corridor]] and roaming habitat which is critical to the survival of the [[Florida black bear]]. Other species of wildlife that call the area home include the [[bald eagle]], [[sandhill crane]], [[white-tail deer]], [[wild turkey]], [[Gopherus polyphemus|gopher tortoise]], and [[bobcat]].<ref name=DOF/>
== Recreation ==
Numerous recreation opportunities are found at Lake George State Forest, including fishing (on the river, lake, and at Jenkins Pond), picnicking, and an interpretive nature trail three-quarter mile (1.21 km) in length. The fall and spring months bring great opportunities for migratory bird-watching, as the forest is part of the [[Great Florida Birding Trail]].<ref name=WMA/>
No boat ramps are available within the State Forest boundaries, but community boat ramps are found nearby. Small watercraft such as canoes can launch from the river bank.<ref name=DOF/>
Visitors may access the forest during daylight hours. Roads, designated trails, and permanent fire lines are available for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. Primitive camping, hunting, and vehicle access is also possible by obtaining a permit from the State Forest Service.<ref name=DOF/>
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Lake George State Forest}}
* [https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Lake-George-State-Forest Lake George State Forest: Florida Forest Service - FDACS]
* [http://www.volusia.org/birding/george.htm Lake George State Forest: Volusia County]
▲[[Category:Florida state forests]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Volusia County, Florida]]
[[Category:St. Johns River]]
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