Visiting a Source of the Mississippi River
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- Note that this is just "a source" rather than "the source." In this video, though, we are very close to Howard Creek (separate video) whose head starts the longest course of open water through Lake Itasca into the Gulf of Mexico.
A sketch map showing the general area and linking to more info is here: www.jlindquist....
Nicollet Creek is the main inlet to Lake Itasca which is popularly acknowledged as the source of the Mississippi River in north central Minnesota. Were it not for a major "disconnect" shown in this video where the water flows underground, one would easily consider Nicollet Creek's ultimate source to be in the area of Whipple Lake, about two miles upstream from Lake Itasca.
As the scientist, explorer and cartographer J. Nicollet followed this stream to Lake Itasca in 1836, he considered it the ultimate source of the Mississippi River - calling it "the infant Mississippi" and "a cradled Hercules." A half century later, as a tribute to Nicollet by J. V. Brower (the first commissioner of Itasca State Park), Nicollet's stream was given his name as were three lakes along his route which were designated Nicollet's "Upper," "Middle" and "Lower" Lakes. It appears from his Journals that Nicollet actually considered Whipple Lake as his first lake (that is, HIS upper lake) with its outflow running most of the way to Lake Itasca as an open stream.
In this video, we view the "Upper Lake" (as Brower called it) which receives the stream from the Whipple Lake area - more specifically from the "Mississippi Springs." (Click on the link above.) The "Upper Lake" is basically a swampy pond with no surface outlet, as the water seeps underground and travels onward as springs beneath a ridge.
Across the ridge, the springs emerge at a lower level. From then on, the water continues openly - without interruption - to the Gulf of Mexico via a reconstituted stream and then the "Middle Lake," Nicollet Creek, Lake Itasca, and the Mississippi River! Along the way, the Miss. receives innumerable tributaries including the Missouri and Ohio Rivers which are the longest and most voluminous, respectively.
Backing up a little: At 4:25, Caption 6 states that "our stream...flows into the main channel of Nicollet's Springs." Upon further examination of this site two years later (in April, 2012), it is difficult to tell which is the "main" channel. Furthermore, both channels appear to originate from springs which are fed by the "Upper Lake," and it appears that the general area was always known by the geographers as "Nicollet Springs."
The "Middle Lake" is called Nicollet Lake at the park, and it is glimpsed at the very end of the video. It's the only feature on this video that can be seen from any established trail; everything else is well off the beaten path. The area is mined with holes masquerading as solid ground.
This is all pretty obscure historical and geographical stuff, but fascinating to a few folks nonetheless. These are things one does not learn about in school.
Thanks for watching! Handel's "Water Music" originally formed the background of this video, until TH-cam saw fit to eliminate the music as it was no longer approved for such use. No problem, as I went back to my original "narration" from the soundtrack of the original video at the site.
(These comments were updated February 8, 2019.)
Rivers and their tributaries have always fascinated me. Everything from the Nile, to the Amazon on down. My fascination started as a boy and it continues to this day. I hope to get up to Minnesota this September and the the Mississippi at it's source.
I find it enthralling to think that a small streams like this grow into large rivers!
I live in Mississippi right off the river. Its interesting to see a source of this mighty river.
I am truly fascinated by rivers and their sources! Thanks for posting!
Very nice video - Years ago, when 3M invited me to their camp in Minnesota a friend took me to the exact spot - I have never forgotten it. Thank you for featuring it in the manner in which you did. I loved it!
That has to be done at least once when visiting the area. I got hooked on visiting the inlets, and it's a whole different world. :-)
@Ma007rk Thank you for visiting my video. The folks who come to the park to walk across the river where it comes out of Lake Itasca should all make it a point to take the short trip around Wilderness Drive and see Nicollet Creek where it runs under the road. It closely resembles the Mississippi downstream from the culvert up by the north entrance. No wonder the early explorers considered it the Mississippi!
@xpez On a related note: In the visitors' center at the Park, there's a sign above a urinal that says it would take 90 days for a drop of rain falling into Lake Itasca to get to the Gulf of Mexico.
I loved this video! Great for answering life's and nature's little questions of our great land of ours such as how such a mighty river begins at all. Map views just dont seem to adequately answer the question. Thank you!
This is by far the CUTEST science documentary I have seen! WELL DONE. thank you for filming and posting this. unbelievable but of course true. All great rivers start as a trickle.
@drewsky684 Itasca State Park is filled with springs, swamps, streams, ponds, lakes - not to mention hills, valleys, tall trees, etc. And Lake Itasca is basically a funnel that pours the surrounding water into the Mississippi River. Nicollet Creek is the main feeder, and I just posted a summary map to help visualize things better; click on the link at the start of my comments under the video.
Thank you for taking time to trek the river and put this video together. It is educating and inspirational.
You're welcome! Thank you for your interest.
That was cool. The amount of life that comes from that is pretty incredible
I am doing a lesson on rivers and their sources and this video is great visual. thanks for doing it. tb
Yea try doing that in Plaquemines Louisiana .
This creek feeds lake itasca? Where does this creek begin? At some point there has to be a spring right?
@xpez A local legend says that urinating into the river in this area will cause a massive peenami all the way to the Gulf - as the volume is augmented along the way. SouthPark had an episode ("Pee," season 13) with a similar theme.
very interesting, educational video. looking at the spring made it so very clear - the water springs from the earth!!!! duh!!! but now i get it. thank you. so i looked at your map. is north pointing in the right direction?
+Tee Cee Yes, north is up. The river arcs toward the east and then goes generally south. A good Minnesota or US map should show this.
@forestmoon3 Thank you! If the original mapmakers (Nicollet and Brower) were around, I'm sure they would thank you for your interest.
It worth seeing the river
We are walking across the mississippi tomorrow!
Thank you! I'm glad you find it agreeable.
Cool! Catfish are jumpin'!
@fordakvideo Thank You! I wish everyone who goes to the Park to "walk across the Mississippi" (where it comes out of Lake Itasca) would take the scenic "Wilderness Drive" around the other side of the Lake. The road crosses the three main tributaries of the lake - including Nicollet Creek which the old explorers (Nicollet & Brower) considered as the Mississippi River!
I came here researching "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin. Nice video.
@jdessbesell Obrigado muito. Seus comentários são muito apreciados.
Is the start of the Mississippi in Northern Minn.? If so.how far north?Beautiful video!!
+missy thatsame Between all that fine print in the intro and a good map of Minnesota you'll see that indeed we are pretty close to the longest continuous course of open water through Lake Itasca into the Gulf of Mexico. There are innumerable tributaries flowing into the Mississippi including what other large rivers (Missouri, Ohio, etc) provide.
great video
@beerbrain420 Thank you!
That's really cool :)
That's not the Mississippi, that's just Chuck Norris taking a piss.
+jamamanjamh13 Awww - I meant to keep that secret.