Everything about The Dells Of The Wisconsin River totally explained
The
Dells of the Wisconsin River (used in the singular, and also called the
Wisconsin Dells) is a 5 mile (8 km)
gorge on the
Wisconsin River in southern
Wisconsin in the
United States noted for its scenic beauty, in particular for its unique
sandstone rock formations and
tributary canyons.
The cliffs, some over 100 feet (30 m) high, and side canyons are closed to the public to protect sensitive ecological features. The viewing of the rock formations by water is a popular tourist attraction in the area. The nearby city of
Wisconsin Dells is the center of summer tourist activity, much of it in the form of the
theme parks unrelated to the river features.
Description and formation
The Dells (term used in the singular) was formed during the last
ice age approximately 15,000 years ago, although the rock itself is much older, dating from the
Cambrian approximately 510-520 million years ago when the area of Wisconsin was at the bottom of a shallow sea.
Approximately 19,000 years ago, the Dells was at the extreme eastern margin of the continental
glacier. However, the Dells itself was never covered by glacial ice sheets - it was part of the large
Driftless Area that was bypassed by the ice. The melting of the glacier formed
Glacial Lake Wisconsin, a lake about the size of
Great Salt Lake in
Utah and as deep as 150 feet (45 m). The lake was held back by an ice dam of the remaining glacier. The eventual bursting of the ice dam unleashed a catastrophic
flood, dropping the lake's depth to 50 feet (15 m) and cutting deep, narrow gorges and unusual rock formations into the sandstone seen today.
Unique ecosystem
The area of the Dells provide a mixture of plant communities, including northern and southern
oak and
pine forests, as well as
oak savanna,
moist, and
dry cliffs,
The cliffs provide unique niches for plants, some of which are very rare in Wisconsin, including:
Among the rare animals in the dell are six
dragonfly species, including the
Royal river cruiser (
Macromia taeniolata), six rare
mussels and numerous species of birds.
Cultural history
The cultural history of the area stretches back several thousand years, from early
Paleo-Indian people to the more recent
Native American peoples, such as
Ho-Chunk,
Sac, and
Menominee, who left behind effigy and burial mounds, camps and village sites, garden beds, and rock art.
The Dells were made famous in 1886 by the
photographer H. H. Bennett, who took the first stop-action photo of his son jumping onto Stand Rock.
Protected status
The area is now owned by the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and was designated a State Natural Area in 1994.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Dells Of The Wisconsin River'.
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