Hayden Prairie, at 240 acres, is the largest remnant prairie in Iowa outside of the Loess Hills. This tallgrass prairie is home to over 200 plant species, used by 46 bird species and 20 types of butterflies.
Hayden Prairie was created in part by the action of glaciers, in particular the last Wisconsin glacial ice sheet 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. This glacier flattened the land and upon its retreat left glacial till (sand, silt, sediments, gravel and boulders). That along with the current interglacial period of hot and cold seasonal temperatures and plant migration developed the prairie you see before you today.
To claim credit for this Earthcache message us your answer to the following questions:
1. Look around you at GZ, what do you see that were left behind by the retreating glacier? (Note these may not be in their original position)
2. In addition to being a Tallgrass Prairie it is also called a (blank) soil prairie? That answer is the color of the soil that is exposed in the GZ area. (you might notice some gopher mounds for soil)
3. Briefly descibe the topography of the prairie; flat, rolling, hilly. How would you characterize or classify the type of land surrounding this prairie?
4. Post a picture on the cache page of you or a personal item with the Hayden Prairie sign behind you.