Prairie Plateau EarthCache
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Hitchcock Nature Center (HNC) is a 1,103 acre preserve located in the globally significant Loess Hills of western Iowa.
Hitchcock Nature Center (HNC) is a 1,103 acre preserve located in the globally significant Loess Hills of western Iowa. The Loess Hills are a rugged landform that extends in a narrow band 10 miles wide along the Missouri River. These massive drifts of silt were deposited by windstorms carrying glacial material from the Missouri River valley during the Ice Ages. Following deposition, periods of erosion sculpted the hills into the picturesque bluffs, precipitous peaks, and rugged ridges that seem to spring up from nowhere out of the flat Missouri River floodplain. Within the Loess Hills can be found the majority of Iowa's remaining natural areas including remnant prairie and bur oak woodlands. These disappearing plant communities provide the last remaining habitat for many rare plant and animal species. Nearly 10 miles of trails wind through parts of the preserve and afford the opportunity for visitors to experience the globally significant Loess Hills firsthand. Visitors can head into the Loess Hills Lodge interpretive facility for more geologic history. Hitchcock Nature Center Hours: 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Loess Hills Lodge (Interpretive Facility) at Hitchcock Nature Center Hours: Summer Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Winter Hours: Friday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Look around,what geologic event led to the formation of the Loess Hills? What is the elevation at this point? (Kestrel Nesting Box) Find the bench, what is the elevation there? Name one method Land Managers use to restore the prairie. Land Manager: Chad Graeve 712-328-5832 Please e-mail your responses to Hitchcock@pottcounty.com and use EarthCache as the subject. Thanks.
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