Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
IN
-
2.2
Million visitors
in 2017 - 6 Total listed species
- $92.0M Visitor spending in 2017
Protected species include:
-
Karner Blue Butterfly
Listed since 1992
-
Pitcher's Thistle
Listed since 1988
An urban oasis just 35 miles outside of Chicago,
Indiana Dunes National Park includes more than 15,000 acres of sensitive dune lands, bird-filled marshes, oak and maple forests, and remnants of once-vast prairies. Visitors can hike along the dunes, swim in Lake Michigan, climb Mt. Baldy or explore Pinhook Bog.
Indiana Dunes has among the highest biological diversity per unit area of all national parks,
including over 1,000 species of ferns and flowering plants. Over 350 species of birds have been observed in the park, many of them stopping to rest as they migrate through the region.
What is the role of the Endangered Species Act?
National parks would not be complete without the animals and plants that call them home. The Endangered Species Act is the most important tool to make sure species vital to the parks are protected for the long term.
