Indiana
Dunes National Lakeshore
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
|
Located 50 miles southeast of Chicago, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
extends for nearly 25 miles (40 kilometers) along the southern shore
of Lake Michigan, from Gary, Indiana in the west to Michigan City
in the east. The park covers around 15,000 acres (6000 hectares)
and contains the smaller 2000-acre (800-hectare) Indiana Dunes State
Park.
Throughout the area are woodland, wetlands, towering sand dunes,
miles of uncrowded beaches and remnants of once-vast prairies, as
well as an early nineteenth century French Canadian homestead and
a working farm dating back to 1900.
The park is home to diverse plant life and ecosystems where plants
of the desert, deciduous and pine woodland, swamps and prairies
all grow in close proximity; Arctic bearberry grows next to prickly
pear cactus and southern dogwoods grow close by northern jack pines.
One of the most fascinating features of the park is the 'singing
sands'. Walking along the water's edge, the combination of moisture,
pressure and friction on the quartz crystal in the sand creates
a clear ringing tone with every step.
|