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IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vol. XXV, 1918 



of the level prairie." This l^luft' also is well timbered and makes 

 a most picturesque scene. Just above Humboldt a dam recently 

 constructed has made an artificial lake ^vhieh will add to the 

 assets of the region. Below Humboldt is the long, narrow ridge 

 between the river forks which already has been mentioned. From 

 the junction of the forks to Fort Dodge, while there is plenty 

 of scenery^ it is rather far from any town so may be passed by 

 at present. Just above Fort Dodge, however, the east side of 

 the valley affords almost every desideratuim for pleasure grounds 

 — steep bluffs, high, level bottom lands, vertical rock scarps, a 

 shelter of timber, an artificial lake behind a high dam. in fact. 



Fig. 1S6. — Des Moines valley below Fort Dodge. 



about all that could be desired. Below Fort Dodge the valley 

 of Two Mile creek, along which the Interurb;in extends, may bfc 

 mentioned as a typical valley for this region. The uniciue de- 

 posit of gypsum, for which Fort Dodge is famous, forms cliffs 

 and scarps, and timber fills the little valley through which the 

 singing stream winds its way to the grea.f river. A multitude of 

 similar valleys make spots of local interest and charm and the 

 main valley as well with its alternating wooded slopes and sand- 

 stone cliffs forms a picture hard to excel in all the plains coun- 

 try. From Fort Dodge to Boone the river is mnding its course 

 through piles of glacial debris which are heaped in ever heighten- 

 ing magnitude to their culmination in the Garj' moraine near 



