Prairie Types

Prairies are areas with fertile soil that contain mostly grasses and come in all sorts of styles. Let's discover the different types of prairies found in Iowa.

Tallgrass Prairies

When the prairie grasses are tall, the roots below ground are even longer. Let's explore a tallgrass prairie.

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Transcript
A mix of prairie plants, including flowering plants and tall grasses.

Question

What do you think makes tallgrass prairies so important for shaping Iowa's landscape?

In the Tallgrass

Immerse yourself in the sounds, and imagine the smells and textures of the prairie. 

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Transcript
An animated monarch butterfly fluttering through a prairie over some purple prairie flowers.

Question

Why might it be important to experience a prairie for yourself?

Wetland Prairies

The prairie pothole region was formed by the presence of glaciers. Today, this area is marked by flat, low ground, which gives way for wetland prairie areas. 

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Transcript
A fairly flat prairie with green and brown grasses as well as a pond.

Question

What do you think makes a prairie in a wetland area similar to or different from other prairies?

Sand Prairies

Compared to other types of prairies in Iowa, sand prairies are rare. Sand prairies bring unique plants, like the prickly pear cactus.

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Transcript
Sandy soil with short brown and green grasses and plants growing out of it.

Question

Why do you think a dry sand prairie might have a lower wet area right next to it?

Prairie Types 360°

Explore tallgrass, sand and wetland prairies in 360° tours and search for the similarities and differences between these three types of prairies.

Look Around
Transcript
An Iowa prairie in spring

Question

What similarities and differences do you notice between the types of prairies in this tour?