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Wisconsin's Scenic Treasures: Southern Vistas
March 01, 2021 | LENGTH: 01HR 28M 54S
WISCONSIN’S SCENIC TREASURES: SOUTHERN VISTAS
Wisconsin’s Scenic Treasures: Southern Vistas is a visually stunning trip across the landscapes of Southern Wisconsin’s most beautiful natural places. Take in the sights and sounds of the region’s forests, prairies, valleys and shorelines, and the flora and fauna that call these places home in this breathtaking celebration of the state’s scenic southern vistas.
On-demand and airing on PBS Wisconsin.
Learn how to make a donation and receive a DVD of the program as a thank-you gift.
Photo Gallery
Take in the landscapes, geology, flora and fauna, as well as behind-the-scenes photographs captured during the production of Wisconsin’s Scenic Treasures: Southern Vistas.
Scenic Treasures Glossary
Bird Call vs. Bird Song
A song is generally much more elaborate than a call, and it typically serves a territorial or mating function. A call is generally simpler (fewer sounds within it) and served a contact or warning function. The Audobon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology offer fun and valuable resources to learn to identify different bird calls and songs.
Bluff
A cliff, headland, or hill with a broad, steep face
Dells
From the French word “dalles” meaning slab-like rocks that form a canyon through which a river flows
Gorge
A narrow cleft with steep, rocky walls, especially one through which a stream runs
Prairie
A treeless grassland dominated by native grasses and wildflowers that once covered much of central North America; prairies in Wisconsin occupied broad, rolling plains to steep hillsides and blufftops
Pine Relict
Pine relicts are pine-dominated conifer forests that occur as discrete, isolated stands in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. Most of these dry “relicts” are associated with sandstone or dolomite bluffs. The bedrock may outcrop as cliffs or ledges, or underlie a thin layer of soil.
Ridge
A long, narrow elevation of land; a chain of hills or mountains
Savanna or Oak Opening
An open woodland dominated by scattered, open-grown oak and hickory trees with an understory of prairie grasses, shrubs and wildflowers
Wisconsin State Park
A Wisconsin State Park is an area of land preserved by the state for its natural, historic or other resources. The State Park System in Wisconsin includes both State Parks and State Recreation Areas. Wisconsin currently has 66 state park units, covering more than 60,570 acres.
Wisconsin State Natural Area
State Natural Areas (SNAs) protect outstanding examples of Wisconsin’s native landscape of natural communities, significant geological formations and archeological sites. Encompassing 406,000 acres on lands owned by the state and its many partners, including land trusts, local and county governments, and private citizens, Wisconsin’s Natural Areas are valuable for research and educational use, the preservation of genetic and biological diversity, and for providing benchmarks for determining the impact of use on managed lands. They also provide some of the last refuges for rare plants and animals.
Partners and Resources
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated to working with the citizens and businesses of the state while preserving and enhancing the natural resources of Wisconsin. In partnership with individuals and organizations, DNR staff manage fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air, and water resources while promoting a healthy, sustainable environment and a full range of outdoor opportunities.
The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Since 1960, TNC has protected more than 236,300 acres of land and water in some of Wisconsin’s most critical and beloved landscapes — from its lakes, to the forests of the Northwoods, to its winding rivers and cherished prairies.
Funding for Wisconsin’s Scenic Treasures: Southern Vistas is provided by the Bitzer Family Legacy Fund, in honor of Lloyd and Jo Ann Bitzer, Greg and Carol Griffin, Elizabeth Olson, Colleen and Ron Weyers, Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family, the Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, Roger and Lynn Van Vreede, Alliant Energy, the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund, Jim Slattery, the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programming, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
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