Lake Wales Ridge

Iron Mountain, the location of Bok Tower, marks another well known high point on the ridge, attaining an elevation of 295 ft (90 m).

A northern unconnected extension of the Lake Wales Ridge exists in western Putnam County near the town of Grandin.

These relic sand dunes created over thousands of years by the dynamic movements of sea, ice and wind now provide refuge for rare and endangered plants and animals.

Due primarily to a long period of isolation, plants and animals that live on the Ridge have developed ways to deal with their harsh environment.

Many animals of the scrub spend much of their lives underground to escape the hot Florida sun as well as to avoid predators.

Most of the vegetation in the Lake Wales Sand Ridge consists of (or has evolved into) scrub plants with thick waxy coated leaves that are drought tolerant.

The leaves of the sand live oak are thick and leathery, rolled in at the edges to help retain as much water as possible during the blazing hot days of summer.