Goll Woods State Nature Preserve, National Natural Landmark in Fulton County, US.
Goll Woods is a 321-acre (130 ha) nature preserve in Fulton County, Ohio, near Archbold. It protects an oak–hickory forest with 200- to 400-year-old trees up to 4 feet in diameter, plus a small Oak Openings savanna of large white and bur oaks. The woods is transitioning from elm–ash–maple swamp forest to beech–maple forest.
Peter and Catherine Goll emigrated from France in 1836 and protected these forests from timber harvesting. Their efforts preserved one of the region's most undisturbed woodlands through the centuries.
The Goll Cemetery and Homestead within the preserve show the European roots of early settlers in northwestern Ohio. Visitors can see traces of how families of that era lived and connected to the land around them.
The trails are well marked and suit different fitness levels, though some sections can be wet or muddy depending on the season. Visitors should wear appropriate footwear and be prepared for uneven ground.
Some trees here are between 200 and 400 years old and represent some of the last examples of original forest in the region. These forest veterans show how natural woodland ecosystems take shape and evolve over long periods.
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