Black Mesa in the Panhandle is the highest and driest place in Oklahoma.
Black Mesa used to be considered a no-man's land. Paleontologists went there to look for dinosaur bones. It's the harshest, coldest place in the state.
And yet, the flora and fauna reported in the Black Mesa are unique — some of these are not found anywhere else in the country. Species have adapted to the harsh climatic conditions. Hikers and visitors to Black Mesa Nature Preserve can look for more than 60 species of butterflies and 50-plus species of birds (and nine types of snakes, if so inclined).
