On April 27, a tornado touched down south of Veterans Lake in Chickasaw National Recreation Area. It traveled northeast for 1.4 miles and was .5 miles wide. Most trees in the tornado’s path were uprooted or had their canopies sheared off. Very few were left unscathed.

It was a warm, sunny day at Veterans Lake in Chickasaw National Recreation Area: butterflies fluttering, frogs hopping, and birds singing. I stepped to the edge of the lake, a long-handled net in my hand. I poked it into the algae-filled water, jabbing at plants rooted in the muck. I pulled the net up and peered insid

There are quite a few parks associations out there, all with programs to enrich a visitor’s experience while explaining how important national parks and protected lands are. This particular quiz focuses on parks and other protected lands supported by the Western National Parks Association across 12 Western states. See just how much you know about some of these parks before checking the answers at the bottom of the page.