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Kansas Nature

The One Enchanting Place In Kansas That Must Go On Your Bucket List Immediately

By Annie | Published September 19, 2016

Can you tell that we here at Only in Kansas absolutely LOVE the Sunflower State?! Isn’t it so… oh, what’s the word… enchanting?! While the entire state is “delightfully charming and attractive,” this one spot in particular may just be one of the most enchanting of them all! Welcome to Cheyenne Bottoms.

Located in central Kansas, Cheyenne Bottoms is the largest wetland in the country, spanning a whopping 41,000 acres!

Cheyenne Bottoms doesn't only represent an important part of the country, but of history as well, as legend has it that an 1825 battle between the Cheyenne and Kiowa Native Americans turned one of the streams red with blood, leading to the aptly named (and infamous) Blood Creek.

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Another interesting (and historic) tidbit? Greyhound racing got its start at Cheyenne Bottoms in 1886.

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How was such a unique area like the bottoms created? While no one is quite sure, the theory is that Cheyenne Bottoms got its start as a sinkhole created when incoming water dissolved underground salt.

In addition to its 41,000 acres of natural land sink, Cheyenne Bottoms also contains a nearly 20,000 acre wildlife area, which welcomes nearly 600,000 shorebirds (from 39 species) during spring migration and 200,000 during the fall.

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area not only serves as a stopping point for migrating birds, but also as a refuge for many endangered and native species.

When you visit, be sure to keep your eyes peeled - you never know what you are going to see!

Craving even more Kansas charm? Visit one of these 12 Enchanting Spots In Kansas You Never Knew Existed!

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