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The Archbold Biological Station is located near the southern end of the Lake Wales Ridge, one of the most distinctive natural regions in the United States. The Ridge is a north-south oriented sandy uplands at the center of the Florida peninsula. It is a series of relict dunes, reflecting its origins 2 million years ago as a shoreline feature during pre- Pleistocene sea level rises, and at times it was an archipelago. This isolation contributed to the evolution of the numerous endemic plants and animals of the Ridge; many of these species are now on state or federal endangered species lists. Native xeric uplands are dominated by pines, shrubby oaks, and hickory. The Ridge contains many sinkhole lakes caused by collapse of limestone deep beneath the overlying sands and clays. The southernmost of these, Lake Annie, is on the Station's property.

Lake Wales Ridge Bibliography | Florida's Ancient Islands | Rare/Endangered Species of LWR | Islands in Time | Lake Annie | Station Habitats

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