Moraine Hills State Park

USA / Illinois / Holiday Hills / S River Rd, 1510
 park, hiking, nature conservation park / area
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During ice ages, a glacier sometimes deposits piles of rocks and gravel. When the glaciers retreat, these gravel hills become a home to a different community of plants and animals than areas nearby with richer soils. Humans call these places "moraines", and generally don't attempt to raise crops on them. Once it was realized that there was a need for natural recreational areas, these moraines became obvious and cheap places for local and state governments to buy and develop as parks. Moraine Hills State Park has hiking and biking trails, endangered plants, bird-watching opportunies, and a glacial lake, Lake Defiance.

dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R2/MORHILLS.HTM
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moraine_Hills_State_Park
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Coordinates:   42°19'3"N   88°13'55"W
This article was last modified 16 years ago