I went to Giant City State Park

2007-11-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

It's so funny,my cousin took me to Giant City State Park.It is located in south Illinois. It's famous for unusual landforms.These are so many animals that I had ever seen before.For example leopard cat and different kinds of snakes.We walked around mountain.I wanted to find some small animals,but these just has trees.
History (from dnr.state.il.us)

Shelter bluffs, or rock shelters, worn into the sides of the cliffs have revealed evidence of human habitation in this region from as early as 10,000 years ago, and the blackened ceilings caused by their fires are still visible today. On an 80-foot sandstone cliff near the main entrance, one can see the remains of a Native American stone wall that was erected between A.D. 600-800.

The first European settlers moved into the area from Kentucky and Tennessee in the early 1800s, and by 1850, settlers were using the land to cultivate fruit trees. During the Civil War, many of the cliffs and canyons were used as havens by soldiers of both the Union and Confederate armies.
By the early 1900s, many biologists, geologists and visitors had become intrigued with the region for study and relaxation. It provided ample opportunity for both.

In 1927, the State of Illinois acquired more than 1,100 acres of land in Union and Jackson counties and dedicated the area as Giant City State Park. In 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps completed construction of a lodge and 12 overnight cabins on the highest point in the park. Today, the park has grown to encompass 4,000 acres of spectacular countryside and the 110-acre Fern Rocks Nature Preserve.

An 82-foot, 100,000 gallon water tower was constructed in 1970 to feature a 50-foot observation deck that provides panoramic views of large expanses of the area.
In 1999, a 4,725-square-foot Visitor Center was completed. The new facility houses exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the park, as well as a gift shop, audio-visual room, and a discovery corner for children.

SO SPECIAL STORY!^^

2007-11-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

My Chinese name is unusual. My first name is Lei.Lei is made of three stones.It is mean strong.Why does my father give this name to me?When my mother was pregnant.My father took her to see my grandpa. The bus ran in a muntain.The road was dangerous and hard.Then a accident happened.The bus went down muntain.Although all of the people thought I was dead,I survived.My father thought I was strong,so gave this name to me.My childhood was so special.When I was born,I lived in Yu Yao in south china for 1 year.My parents worked in north china.After 1year they took me to north china.The south and the north were different.The north china si in high lat,so air is tenuous and very cold.I couldn’t adapt to north china,so my parents moved to south china when I was 6.After that we lived in Hang Zhou.

happy-peterzhang

I went to Giant City State Park

SO SPECIAL STORY!^^