Down the river

The once narrow Mississippi River becomes at places a broad valley where it widens out to over a mile or so. All though controlled by a series of locks and dams the scenery along the river is spectacular in places.  Not too far from the river are some interesting places to visit as well.  The bottom two rows are mainly of Lake Pepin taken in August, 2000.  Eons ago the river originated near here and headed north via what is now the Minnesota River and Red River of the North to Hudson Bay according to some geologists.

 

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At  one time there were three railroads that had high quality, high speed  service between Chicago and the Twin Cities.  Now only the Empire Builder, seen in Hastings, is the single example left by Amtrak.  Soon the train will be along the banks along the river.

 

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The marina at Lake City.  The bluffs in the background is Wisconsin, across the river.

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The west bank of the Mississippi down stream from Lake City.

Another example of glacial work.  This time it's near the Zumbro river about ten miles north of Plainview, Minnesota along County highway 4

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Well in the field - County 18 and 4 north of Plainview.   

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Town in the Valley - Fields of golden grain in the Zumbro valley.   .That's the town of Theilman, Minnesota with its opera house and two churches.  

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Theilman has an opera house and two churches.  I wonder what was playing at the opera house last weekend?  By the way, that first step is a mighty big one out of the building!

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The old frame church of Theilman.  Where's Norman Rockwell when we need him?

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The Zumbro river east of Theilman. 
One of the most scenic areas along river is Lake Pepin.  This is Wisconsin 35 showing the hills.  Notice the house on top of one of them.

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 The lake was a result of an artificial dam caused by the Chippewa River delta outflow during the glacier era.   This is a view from the Wisconsin side.

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 Bluffs like this along the river are common and date back from the retrieval of the glaciers thousands of years ago.  Again, this is along Lake Pepin in Wisconsin.

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 The southern end of Lake Pepin shows what is left of the dam.  The mouth of the Chippewa river is seen to the right across the river.

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 This is at the narrows of the river just south of Lake Pepin. One has to wonder if anyone lives in that little shack on the east bank of the river?

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 The vista south of Lake City along Minnesota affords a view of the widest part of Lake Pepin.  The scenary reminds me of the Hudson River north of New York City.

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[c] 2000-2003 

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