(Radio Iowa) The 200-mile long land formation known as the Loess (LUSS) Hills which comprises much of Iowa’s western border is subject of a new collaborative book. “On Common Ground: Learning and Living in the Loess Hills,” was created by a celebrated list of writers, naturalists, artists and others who were assembled in the region for a single weekend. One of the project’s contributors and the co-editor is Brian Hazlett, a biology professor at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.

This diverse group of people from near and far toured the beautiful naturescape of western Iowa in September of 2021. One person lives in a forest on the East Coast, another hails from the deserts of Arizona, and many had never before been to western Iowa.

The hills were carved millennia ago by glaciers, and the land formation is unique to our hemisphere, with only an area of China being similar in its composition. Plus, western Iowa is the best place to see what this land may’ve looked like before it was settled by pioneers.

Hazlett says it’s been a thrill to see this book published and he sees this format as being something that could have a wider scope.

Book release events are planned August 24th at Briar Cliff University, and August 26th at Book People bookstore in Sioux City. The 242-page book is now available and is being published by North Liberty-based Ice Cube Press.