Paha Land Formations

Some say that Iowa has an uninteresting landscape. Those people have not taken the time to notice the unique features and subtle differences between areas in our state. A paha is one of the unique features that isn’t very well known. In the photo, you can see flat agricultural land of Iowa. Seemingly out of nowhere there are small, rounded hills that appear. Paha are related to glacial topography. According to Jean Prior’s Landforms of Iowa book, “Paha are actually wind-aligned dunes that accumulated in response to the strong, prevailing northwest winds that were scouring the Iowan Surface during this period of glacial cold.” Earth’s major systems are the geosphere (solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments), the hydrosphere (water and ice), the atmosphere (air), and the biosphere (living things, including humans). These systems interact in multiple ways to affect Earth’s surface materials and processes. A paha exists due to geologic conditions surrounding glaciers and high silt content moved by wind. While there is much still to be learned about paha, it is important to highlight the essence of science as an ever-growing body of knowledge.

To understand the various features of Iowa geology and landforms, it is important to understand forces of weathering, erosion, glaciation, drainage, river and stream motions, etc. Pahas formed during a period of glaciation through wind action. 

Why are there hills in the middle of the farm ground?

• How did these hills get here?
• Why do hills rise out of the flat ground?

Students could:

• Look at landscape evidence and create their own explanation (argument). While they may not be correct or may need support, is a valuable process.
• Build their own awareness of this unique land feature by creating a model that includes interactions between two major Earth’s systems as described in this standard~students can put forth their reasoning for which two they choose. 
• Create an “I notice/I wonder” chart based on the phenomenon. 

• Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) | Landforms of Iowa: Information on the landforms of Iowa.
• Explore Iowa Geology: Information on pahas in Tama County, Iowa.
• Iowa Science Teachers Journal: The Mystery of the Paha: Constructive Landforms of Northeast Iowa.
• Iowa State University Extension: Landforms and Geology - Iowa's Nature Series: A free PDF booklet detailing Iowa geology, fossils and landforms.