Prairie

Here at the mines we have another really cool and really important ecosystem called the tall grass prairie. Tall grass prairies are a very diverse and beautiful ecosystem that is home to an amaizng amount of plants and animals. At the time of European settlement, Iowa was 85% tall grass prairie. Seas of waving grass were some of the first sights that the settlers saw as they entered the state. Tall grass prairies are known for their plants' deep roots. Some prairie plant roots can be over 10 feet deep. The roots hold the soil in place and provide a unique habitat for microorganisms.Tall grass prairies are also home to many animal species.