Waubonsie State Park

Waubonsie State Park
Waubonsie State Park, May 2014
Location of Waubonsie State Park in Iowa Show map of Iowa Waubonsie State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Fremont County, Iowa, United States
Coordinates	40°40′20″N 95°41′18″W / 40.67222°N 95.68833°W / 40.67222; -95.68833
Area	1,990 acres (8.1 km2)[1]
Elevation	1,099 ft (335 m)[2]
Established	1926
Named for	Chief Wabaunsee
Governing body	Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Website	Waubonsie State Park

Waubonsie State Park is a state park in Fremont County, Iowa, United States, located in the Loess Hills region. It is named for Chief Wabaunsee of the Potawatomi people.

Waubonsie State Park is located in the unique Loess Hills, a landform found only along the Missouri River in Iowa and Missouri. As glaciers melted 14,000 to 28,000 years ago, the Missouri River became a major channel for huge volumes of water and sediment during the summer. In winter, the volume of the meltwater was reduced, leaving the deposited sediments exposed to the wind. These sediments of silt, clay and very fine sand particles called "loess," were then carried by strong westerly winds and deposited when these winds encountered the steep slopes of the east valley wall.

There are several distinctive features of loess hills topography. Because of the fine texture of the soil, deep, steep-sided and very narrow ridge tops have been eroded in the hills. Small, step-like terraces called "cat steps" resulting from repeated slipping of the soil can be seen on many west-facing slopes. Since the soil drains rapidly, nearly vertical cuts can be made in the soil without erosion. The unique topography of the park resembles the "badlands" of the west and harbors plants like the yucca which are normally found in more arid climates.