| Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve | |
|---|---|
 View of wetland prairie | |
| Location | Lake County, Indiana, US |
| Nearest city | Griffith, Indiana |
| Coordinates | 41°31′21.66″N 87°27′27.26″W / 41.5226833°N 87.4575722°W |
| Established | 1976 |
| Governing body | Indiana Dept of Natural Resources; National Park Service |
| Designated | 1974 |
Hoosier Prairie is a unit of Indiana Dunes National Park in Lake County, Indiana. It began in the 1970s as wasteland that conservation organization found of a unique interest. From a core of 304 acres (123 ha), it has grown to 1,547 acres (626 ha) of important prairie habitat.[1] The area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974[2] and a State Nature Preserve in 1977[3] The sandy soil creates a variety of habitats, from oak barrens, wet prairie, including sedge meadows and prairie marshes. More than 350 native species of vascular plants have been identified. A minimum of 43 species are uncommon in the State of Indiana.[3]
- ^ Hoosier Prairie, The Nature Conservancy
- ^ "National Natural Landmark: Hoosier Prairie". National Park Service. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ a b Guide to Indiana Preserves, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana University Press; Bloomington, Indiana; 2006