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Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area

Geode-laden streams and Karst topography

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A couple of fisherman on Lake Monroe, Indiana Courtesy of Cindy Cornett Seigle via Flickr
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Waterfowl in Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area Courtesy of Jess Kaiser via Flickr
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Natural Bridge in Hoosier National Forest, which includes Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area © David Muench/Corbis
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The shoreline of Lake Monroe, which borders the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area to the west Courtesy of Tom Wisdom via Flickr

Location: Indiana
Size: 12,463 acres
Year Designated: 1982
Fast Fact: The Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area contains streams laden with geodes—spherical rocks whose cavities contain beautiful, sparkling crystals.

Named for Indiana’s first State Forester, the Charles C. Deam Wilderness area was covered by farmland as recently as 50 years ago. Today, while signs of past human interference are still visible, secondary forests have successfully reclaimed parts of the area, bringing native species, such as hawks and woodpeckers, back to Indiana’s only wilderness area.

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