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Loess soil
We live among the Loess Hills, but did you know that the hills get their name from the soil in the area? Loess soil is a unique kind of material – it is powdery and soft, but when packed it is strong. The word “loess” is German for “loose” and is pronounced “luss.”
Loess soil can be seen around the world, but the Loess Hills are unique for the sheer amount found here — the layers of it are 200 feet deep in some areas. The only other area in the world that has this much loess soil is in China.
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Block diagram of the present landscape of the Loess Hills showing features above and below the surface. (University of Iowa Press, Iowa City, 1991).
Loess soil is mineral rich and fertile, but is easily eroded.
The soil came from glaciers grinding stones to dust, that dust was deposited on either side of the Missouri River by the wind over geological time.
Learn more about our area’s loess soil from the U.S. Geological Survey.