The Geography of the Region about Devil's Lake and the Dalles of the Wisconsin: With Some Notes on Its Surface GeologySalisbury, Rollin D.
Science
The Geography of the Region about Devil's Lake and the Dalles of the Wisconsin: With Some Notes on Its Surface Geology
Salisbury, Rollin D.
Physical geography; Wisconsin -- Description and travel
The relief of the surface is of two somewhat different types. In some
parts of the area, especially in the western part of the tract shown on
Plate II, the surface is made up of a succession of ridges and valleys.
The ridges may be broken by depressions at frequent intervals, but the
valleys are nowhere similarly interrupted. It would rarely be possible
to walk along a ridge or "divide" for many miles without descending into
valleys; but once in a valley in any part of the area, it may be
descended without interruption, until the Baraboo, the Wisconsin, the
Mississippi, and finally the gulf is reached. In other words, the
depressions are continuous, but the elevations are not. This is the
first type of topography.
Where this type of topography prevails its relation to drainage is
evident at a glance. All the larger depressions are occupied by streams
continuously, while the smaller ones contain running water during some
part of the year. The relations of streams to the depressions, and the
wear which the streams effect, whether they be permanent or temporary,
suggest that running water is at least one of the agencies concerned in
the making of valleys.
An idea of the general arrangement of the valleys, as well as many
suggestions concerning the evolution of the topography of the broken
plain in which they lie might be gained by entering a valley at its
head, and following it wherever it leads. At its head, the valley is
relatively narrow, and its slopes descend promptly from either side in
such a manner that a cross-section of the valley is V-shaped. In places,
as west of Camp Douglas, the deep, steep-sided valleys are found to lead
down and out from a tract of land so slightly rolling as to be well
adapted to cultivation. Following down the valley, its progressive
increase in width and depth is at once evident, and at the same time
small tributary valleys come in from right and left. At no great
distance from the heads of the valleys, streams are found in their
bottoms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account