An effort is underway to expand the Effigy Mounds National Monument innortheast Iowa by 70-percent. The earthen mounds at the site were built byancient cultures up to 25-hundred years ago. The Iowa Natural HeritageFoundation is working to purchase over one-thousand acres of landsurrounding the Monument in Allamakee County. Natural Heritage spokesperson Cathy Engstrom says the land would become partof the national monument once it’s purchased.Engstrom says the land will cost at least one-million dollars. Engstrom saysthe addition of the land would create one of the largest unbroken naturalareas in the state.Engstrom says the Natural Heritage Foundation is taking donations to helppay for the addition. She says you can find out how to donate by visitingtheir website.The website address is i-n-h-f dot org (www.inhf.org). The phone number is515-288-1846 and the address is 505 Fifth Ave., Suite 444, Des Moines, Iowa50309. The Effigy Mounds National Monument celebrated its 50th anniversarylast week.