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47 <br /> WAKE COUNTY <br /> Fifty- nine significant natural areas have been <br /> identified and inventoried in Wake County. <br /> 9 Their ecological importance is based on : <br /> N quality and <br /> 1 s integrity of the natural <br /> � <br /> 16 Al communities , the rarity and condition of rare <br /> A plants and animals , or the uniqueness or <br /> A5 11 importance of geomorphic features . These <br /> 3 Raleigh 14 • 15 nineteen areas have broader ecological <br /> co 10 y O significance shared by neighboring counties , <br /> 6 A 17 A the state of North Carolina , the Southeast <br /> -4 <br /> region , and the nation . <br /> A13 <br /> This map shows the location of Wake <br /> � 2A7 County ' s 19 significant natural areas as <br /> A 12 identified and inventoried in the 1993 <br /> Albemarle Pamlico Estuarine Study- Phase III <br /> by the NC Natural Heritage Program . <br /> 1 . Adam Mountain : The second highest point in Wake County with the only example of an Open Barren community <br /> with stunted trees and unusual plants . <br /> 2 . Camp Branch : The densest colony of Lewis ' heartleaf in NC . <br /> 3 . Crabtree Creek- Ebenezer Church Road Slopes : A steep , north - facing slope with the uncommon shrub catawba <br /> rhododendron . <br /> 4 . Hemlock Bluffs : Canadian hemlocks on steep , north - facing slopes , occurring 200 miles from their normal range <br /> in the Appalachian Mountains . Rich population of wildflowers and excellent diversity of salamanders . <br /> 5 . Horseshoe Farm Bottomland Forest : A meander or " horseshoe bend " of the Neuse River with natural levees and <br /> a mature , essentially non - disturbed hardwood forest . <br /> 6 . Lake Raleigh Hardwood Forest : Mixed hardwoods with excellent wildflower diversity. <br /> 7 . Middle Creek Bluffs & Slopes : Wildflowers on slopes with large showy orchid population . <br /> 8 . Mitchell 's Millpond : Largest extent of granitic flatrocks in NC with several rare plants and the rare Neuse River <br /> waterdog . <br /> 9 . Old Still Creek Forest : Mixed hardwoods and a diversity of wildflowers . <br /> 10 . Robertson 's Millpond and Buffalo Creek : Old millpond with a nearly complete canopy of native bald cypress <br /> trees and a diversity of nesting birds . <br /> 11 . S . W. Rolesville Granitic Rocks : Numerous flatrocks and boulders with one of the largest colonies in NC of <br /> nestronia , a rare shrub . <br /> 12 . Sunset Lake Salamander Ponds : Two ponds that support the only Piedmont population of the tiger salamander <br /> (Ambystoma tigrinum ) , a State , Threatened species . <br /> 13 . Swift Creek Bluffs : Mature, high quality American Beech trees on slopes and flats with wildflowers . <br /> 14 . Temple Rock : Large granitic flatrock in pristine condition with good examples of primary succession on bare rock . <br /> 15 . The Rocks : Large extent of granitic flatrocks covering 10 acres with good granitic flora . <br /> 16 . Upper Barton Creek Bluffs & Ravine : Mature mixed hardwood forest with a high diversity of plants , especially <br /> ginseng . <br /> 17 . Walnut Creek Sumac Site : Habitat for Michaux ' s Sumac , a federally Endangered plant species . <br /> 18 . Wild Cat Hollow : Small caves amid granite boulders . <br /> 19 . Umstead State Park : Extensive pine and hardwood forests covering 5 , 000 + acres with varied wildlife and some <br /> rare animal species . <br /> 30 <br />