Search Results - Wisconsin River
| Type in a word or phrase to search, you can also type in Article ID's separated by commas: |
 |
|
|
The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Wisconsin in the United States. At approximately 430 mi (692 km) long, it is the state's longest river. The river's name, first recorded in 1673 by Jacques Marquette as "Meskousing," is rooted in the Algonquian languages used by the area's American Indian tribes, but its original meaning is obscure. French explorers who followed in the wake of Marquette later modified the name to "Ouisconsin." This was simplified to "Wisconsin" in the early 19th century before being applied to Wisconsin Territory and finally the state of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin River originates in the forests of the Lake District of northern Wisconsin, in Lac Vieux Desert near the border of the upper peninsula of Michigan. It flows south across the glacial plain of central Wisconsin, passing Wausau and Stevens Point. In southern Wisconsin it encounters the terminal moraine formed during the last ice age, where it forms the spectacular Dells of the Wisconsin River. North of Madison, at Portage, the river turns to the west, flowing through Wisconsin's hilly Western Upland and joining the Mississippi approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) south of Prairie du Chien. Although the river was originally navigable up to the city of Portage, 200 mi (320 km) from its mouth, it is now considered non-navigable beyond the lock and dam at Prairie du Sac.[1] Geologists say that the modern Wisconsin River was formed in several stages. The lower, westward-flowing portion of the river is located in the unglaciated Driftless Area, and this section of the river's course likely predates the rest by several million years. Curiously, the lower reach of the river is narrower than its upstream valley, leading to the suggestion the upper portions of the ancestor of the river flowed east previous to the Pleistocene.[2] The remaining length of the river was formed gradually as glaciers advanced and retreated over Wisconsin. The stretch of river from Stevens Point north to Merrill was a drainage route for meltwater flowing away from glaciers which covered northern Wisconsin during the Wisconsin Glaciation. As the glaciers retreated further northward, the river also grew in that direction. South from Stevens Point, the meltwater would have flowed into Glacial Lake Wisconsin, a prehistoric proglacial lake that existed in the central part of the state. As temperatures warmed around 15,000 years ago, the ice dam holding the lake in place burst, unleashing a catastrophic flood that carved the Dells of the Wisconsin River and joined the upper stretches of the river with the pre-existing lower river valley that today flows from Portage to Prairie du Chien. The first documented exploration of the Wisconsin River by Europeans took place in 1673, when Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet of France canoed from Lake Michigan up the Fox River until reaching the present-day site of Portage in early June. At this location the Wisconsin and Fox rivers are only 2 mi (3.2 km) distant, so the explorers could portage from the Fox to the Wisconsin River. They then continued downstream 200 mi (320 km) to the Wisconsin's mouth, entering the Mississippi on June 17. Other explorers and traders would follow the same route, and for the next 150 years the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, collectively known as the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway, would form a major transportation route between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. (See French colonization of the Americas).
|
Showing 1 to 6 of 6 Articles matching 'Wisconsin River' in related articles. |
| Pages: 1 |
 |
|
|
|
1. Hydro Renewable Source of Energy
April 09, 2008
Among the renewable energy sources that produce electricity, hydropower is the most common one. It calculated for a 7 % of total U.S. electricity generation. It is among the oldest resource of energy and was used many years ago to revolve a paddle wheel for reason such as grinding grain. The first U.S. hydroelectric power plant opened on the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, on September 30, 1882. Before that, coal was the solitary fuel used to produce electricity. Since the supply of hydropower is water, hydroelectric power plants must be situated on a water resource. Consequently, when th... (read more)
Author: Fabricio Guerrero
|
|
|
|
|
2. Farmer Interview: River Valley Ranch
July 20, 2007
Wintertime doesn’t slow things down too much at River Valley Ranch, the oldest mushroom farm in the Midwest! We spoke with Eric Rose about his wonderful farm and kitchen in Burlington, Wisconsin. The Farm Eric’s father founded River Valley Ranch in 1976. Now run by Eric with a team that’s been with him for 5 years, the Ranch spans 37 acres and cultivates about 400,000 pounds of 5 varieties of mushrooms per year. Delicious portobello, crimini, white, shitake and oyster. In about 30,000 square feet of covered space, mushrooms are grown without chemicals or pesticides. In addition, Eri... (read more)
Author: Shelly Herman
|
|
|
|
|
3. Wisconsin Dells River Walk Hotels
May 10, 2007
If you have ever been to Wisconsin Dells will better understand why it is called as the Water capital of the world. And those who haven’t been to Wisconsin Dells we will introduce you to it. Welcome to the water park capital of the world. Welcome to the city of Wisconsin Dells. Wisconsin Dells is indeed not only the water park capital of the world but a city offering the highest variety of fun for the entire family. A city, you will dream to come again and again to seek the wildest pleasure and exciting adventures. This is the city of Wisconsin Dells, proudly located on the Wisconsin River in ... (read more)
Author: Anand Dongre
|
|
|
|
|
4. Wisconsin Dells Wilderness Hotels
April 26, 2007
Welcome to the water park capital of the world. Welcome to the city of Wisconsin Dells. Wisconsin Dells is indeed not only the water park capital of the world but a city offering the highest variety of fun for the entire family. A city, you will dream to come again and again to seek the wildest pleasure and exciting adventures. This is the city of Wisconsin Dells, proudly located on the Wisconsin River in central Wisconsin with its unique community. Wisconsin Dells has a population of three thousand inhabitants which swells to many thousands with the ever increasing flow of tourists. That is w... (read more)
Author: Anand Dongre
|
|
|
|
|
5. Bay Beach amusement park: family holiday heaven
October 19, 2006
Wisconsin might be better known as the home state to Harry Houdini and Orson Welles, but it also contains a variety of tourist attractions to entice visitors from across America and the world. One of these attractions is the Bay Beach Amusement Park, a small amusement park near the mouth of the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin. If you're looking for a family outing full of good, solid fun, then Bay Beach Amusement Park will be your ideal holiday destination. The amusement park has a rich history which stretches back to 1892; in this year, a young entrepreneur called Mitchell Nejedlo, in... (read more)
Author: sam lowe
|
|
|
|
|
6. A day spent at Bay Beach Amusement Park is simply a day of delight
September 11, 2006
If you're after some good old-fashioned family fun, Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin is the perfect place for you and your family to visit. Located near the mouth of the Fox River in Wisconsin, Bay Beach Amusement Park has been providing children and adults alike with pure fun since it first opened its gates in the late 1800’s. The amusement park, having acquired its name from the famous 'Bay Beach' which runs along the east end of the park, has had a rich history from its creation through to its ongoing development. When a young entrepreneur by the name of Mitchell Nejedl... (read more)
Author: Andrew Regan
|
|
|
|
|
