A bevy of experimental infrared images taken during a walk along the Centennial Trail at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge give the nation’s first national wildlife refuge an otherworldly appearance.

The beginning of the 3/4-mile paved Centennial Trail that leads to an observation tower overlooking Pelican Island – the first national wildlife refuge in the United States.

A short walk brings one to a kiosk of interpretive panels on the right and at left, under the palm tree alongside the trail, the time capsule encased in granite to be opened at the refuge’s 200th anniversary in 2103.

The trail loops around Centennial Pond.

View of the Trail with Centennial Pond at right.

A pavilion with a picnic table and observation scope alongside the Trail and pond.

The view of Centennial Pond from the picnic table pavilion.

Back on the trail leaving the pavilion and pond behind.

The kiosk at the entrance to the boardwalk over the intervening wetlands that leads to the observation tower.

A wetland view from the boardwalk.

The boardwalk lists all off the national wildlife refuges and their creation date starting with the latest at the beginning and ending with the first refuge, Pelican Island, when one reaches the tower.

Another wetland view from the boardwalk.

Getting close to the tower at the end of the boardwalk.

More wetlands as viewed from the boardwalk.

The final approach to the Tower. Note the refuges listed on the boardwalk going back in time to 1903 and the creation of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The view from the Observation Tower of Pelican Island, the small island in the center of the image.