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Natural Illinois

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Adele Hodde
Published July 1, 2011 at 12:00 AM CDT
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park is at Zion on Lake Michigan.
Adele Hodde
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Illinois Department of Natural Resource

Fishing at Ferne Clyffe State Park in southern Illinois
Credit Adele Hodde / Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Fishing at Ferne Clyffe State Park in southern Illinois

Ferns cling to sandstone bluffs in Starved Rock State Park. Fragile plant and animal communities are threatened by invasive species and a lack of natural areas management.
Credit Chris Young
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Ferns cling to sandstone bluffs in Starved Rock State Park. Fragile plant and animal communities are threatened by invasive species and a lack of natural areas management.
A lady slipper orchid flowers at Starved Rock State Park. Conservative plant species like orchids are susceptible to changes in habitat such as invasion by non-native plants and a lack of management.
Credit Chris Young
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A lady slipper orchid flowers at Starved Rock State Park. Conservative plant species like orchids are susceptible to changes in habitat such as invasion by non-native plants and a lack of management.
Illinois Beach State Park stretches for six and a half miles along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan.
Credit Adele Hodde / Illinois Department of Natural Resources
/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Beach State Park stretches for six and a half miles along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan.
Ferne Clyffe State Park, marked by limestone bluffs, is in Johnson County.
Credit Adele Hodde / Illinois Department of Natural Resources
/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Ferne Clyffe State Park, marked by limestone bluffs, is in Johnson County.
A trout is caught at Ferne Clyffe State Park.
Credit Adele Hodde / Illinois Department of Natural Resources
/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
A trout is caught at Ferne Clyffe State Park.
Fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinite) at Illinois Beach State Park
Credit Adele Hodde / Illinois Department of Natural Resources
/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinite) at Illinois Beach State Park
Visitors are attracted to natural features at state parks such as Wildcat Canyon’s waterfall. Starved Rock features sandstone canyons and bluffs carved by torrents of water released by melting glaciers thousands of years ago.
Credit Chris Young
/
Visitors are attracted to natural features at state parks such as Wildcat Canyon’s waterfall. Starved Rock features sandstone canyons and bluffs carved by torrents of water released by melting glaciers thousands of years ago.
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park is at Zion on Lake Michigan.
Credit Adele Hodde / Illinois Department of Natural Resources
/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park
Starved Rock State Park offers sandstone canyons and breath-taking scenery.
Credit Chris Young
/
Starved Rock State Park offers sandstone canyons and breath-taking scenery.

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Health+Harvest Illinois IssuesNaturePhoto EssayChris YoungAdele Hodde
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