Great Lakes Dunes Postage Stamps

The beautiful sand dunes that line portions of the five Great Lakes in the United States have been honored by the United States Postal Service. The stamps are the tenth installment by the USPS’s Nature of America educational series. Previous educational issues include the Sonoran Desert issued in 1999, the Pacific Coast Rain Forest in 2000, the Great Plains Prairie in 2001, the Longleaf Pine Forest in 2002, the Arctic Tundra in 2003, the Pacific Coral Reef in 2004, the Northeast Deciduous Forest in 2005, and the Southern Florida Wetlands in 2006 and Alpine Tundra issued in 2007. All of these stamps have shown just some of the amazing natural beauty that can be found in the United States.

One of the largest freshwater dune systems in the world can be found around all of our own Great Lakes. The bulk of the United States dunes can be found on the west Michigan shoreline. The dunes are a dynamic landscape that is formed when the shifting sand, wind and water work in perfect harmony. It is a playground for the young and old and should certainly be protected so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes in particular is showcased in this stamp collection. It receives its name by the site of the huge dune formation that resembles a sleeping bear. There are 27 different types of plant life, animals, birds and insects imbedded on the stamp sheet. The stamps show the diverse wildlife that effortlessly co-exists in the dunes.

The back of the stamp pane features a numbered key to the artwork with the corresponding list of both the scientific and common names for the 27 selected species. This makes a neat addition to any stamp collection. First day of issue postmarks are available for envelopes postmarked by December 3, 2008 from the USPS.