Regional Wonder: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Votes: 2,445 (20 percent of total votes)

History: Although the legislation that authorized the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was passed in 1966, the movement for a protected parkland began decades before that in 1899. Early on, numerous individuals and organizations worked to protect the area from industrial threats in a booming region.

In 1926, after a 10-year petition by the state of Indiana to preserve the Dunes, the Indiana Dunes State Park opened to the public. The park was relatively small in size at the time and the push for a national park continued. In 1966, the 89th Congress made the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore a reality, with the legislation authorizing the protection of 8,330 acres of land and water.

Organizations continued to work for expansion of the boundaries, and four subsequent bills led to its current size of more than 15,000 acres.

Notable: Having one of the most diverse plant communities of any unit in the U.S. National Park system, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is well-known for its biological diversity. It provides habitat for more than 1,100 native vascular plants and hundreds of species of animals, including many federally threatened or endangered species.

The park is renowned for its bird life, as more than 350 species have been observed within its boundaries. Other wildlife includes more than 70 species of fish and 60 species of butterflies, including the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly.

Also found along the lakeshore are singing sands, which produce sound when wind passes over the Dunes. At 126 feet high, Mount Baldy is the largest moving dune within the lakeshore.

Various activities also are available at the park, including camping, hiking, bird watching, fishing, swimming and horseback riding. According to park officials, about 2 million people visit the park each year.

Comment: "The Dunes has a history here," said Garry Traynham, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore acting superintendent. "Many people have fond memories of coming to the beaches during their youth. Today, in addition to the beaches we have miles of trails to hike and areas to bike through. It's just an expansive area of recreational opportunities."