Meeting of the Pines Natural Area
{{Short description|Natural area in Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Meeting of the Pines Natural Area
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| map = USA Pennsylvania
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| map_caption = Location within Pennsylvania
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| location = Franklin County, Pennsylvania
| nearest_town = Mont Alto
| coordinates = {{coord|39.8387|N|77.5319|W|region:US-PA|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
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| area = {{convert|611|acre}}
| established = 1974
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Meeting of the Pines Natural Area is a {{convert|611|acre|ha|adj=on}} protected area in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Michaux State Forest.{{Cite web |title=Michaux State Forest Wild and Natural Areas |url=https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests/FindAForest/Michaux/Pages/Wild_NaturalAreas.aspx |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Fergus |first=Charles |title=Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas |publisher=Stackpole Books |year=2002 |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |pages=31–34}}
Description
The Natural Area was established in 1974 to preserve a forest grove containing five of the six species of pine tree that are native to Pennsylvania, and to allow natural forest propagation processes. The area includes some of the few specimens of shortleaf pine to be found in the northeastern United States.
Meeting of the Pines Natural Area is adjacent to the Penn State Mont Alto campus, and across PA 233 from Mont Alto State Park. The area is frequently the site of forestry research by the university.{{Cite journal |last1=Hunter |first1=Nick B. |last2=Swisher |first2=Kenneth J. |date=October–December 1983 |title=Arboreal Composition of a Pennsylvania Natural Area: Past, Present and Future |journal=Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club |volume=110 |issue=4 |pages=507–518 |doi=10.2307/2996285 |jstor=2996285 }}
References
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{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}}