Iowa's wetlands were most common in north and central Iowa in the area known as the Des Moines Lobe. This area, sometimes called the “thousand-lake” region by pioneers, was a 7.6 million-acre area of vast prairies dotted with thousands of pothole wetlands. Many were only seasonally wet. The region was formed as a result of the most recent glaciers that covered Iowa 10,000-14,000 years ago. The glaciers flattened and scraped the landscape and left numerous depressions that filled with water as the ice mass retreated. Left behind were thousands of wetlands as small as less than an acre, and large lakes - Storm Lake, Clear Lake, Spirit Lake, and West Okoboji. Before 95% of wetlands were destroyed, in some areas, an early pioneer may have counted 200 pothole wetlands in a square mile.
Different types of wetlands The once numerous wetland marshes that were the result of glaciers are called palustrine wetlands. Other types of wetlands also exist in Iowa. Lacustrine wetlands include both open lake water and the shallow edges of lakes. All of Iowa's large lakes have associated wetlands. Backwaters of the Mississippi River and other rivers and streams sometimes have associated riverine wetlands. Wet areas where groundwater comes to the surface are called seepage wetlands. Fens are seepage wetlands where alkaline water rises to the surface. Bogs are wetlands which have acidic, peat soils.
To claim this as a find answer the following questions.
1. What type of wetland do you think this is and why?
2. How many potholes could a pioneer have counted in a square mile?
3. Optional, post a photo of you or your team with the wetland in the background.