UNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin’s Waterways

ChapterUNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin Waterways

Glacial Lakes and Rivers

-Glacial lakes form when blocks of ice, rock and gravel hold back melting ice

-Glacial Lake Wisconsin was the largest -It covered much of five counties:

1. Adams2. Juneau3. Monroe4. Sauk5. Wood

-When the ice finally melts, the water rushes out, cutting river valleys and creating rock formations

-Most every river in Wisconsin resulted from the melting of GlaciersPage 1

Chapter

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UNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin Waterways

Chapter Lakes and Wetlands-Lakes in Wisconsin are created one of

three ways:1. Kettles created by glacial movement2. Basins created by a glacier’s weight3. Manmade

-The Great Lakes are an enormous example of this

-Stretching about 1,000 miles across the United States, the Great Lakes contain nearly 1/5 of the worlds drinkable water

-Lakes that were shallow filled with aquatic vegetation and became known as wetlands

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UNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin Waterways

Chapter Watersheds

-All water (precipitation) drains from the land into the nearest waterway

-The area of land that drains into common waterways is referred to as a watershed

-Smaller streams, that flow into larger waterways are called tributaries

-Large rivers and their tributaries form river systems

-All of Wisconsin’s watersheds and river systems flow into one of three major waterways1. The Mississippi River2. Lake Michigan3. Lake Superior Page 4

UNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin Waterways

Chapter Example Watershed

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UNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin Waterways

Chapter

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UNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin Waterways

Chapter Wisconsin Has…

-860 miles of Great Lakes

shoreline

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UNIT #1 Geography

Wisconsin Waterways

- About 15,000 inland lakes

-44,000 miles of rivers and streams

-5.3 million acres of wetlands