THE RED RIVER. 55 



country is rolling and hilly, rising 50 to 100 feet above the river. Farther 

 west the flat or slightly undulating surface oi the lacustrine area soon sinks, 

 so that the average height varies from 5 to 15 feet above the river in its 

 ordinary low stage, yet its banks are seldom or never overflowed. The only 

 noteworthy tributary to the Red River between Ottertail Lake and Breck- 

 enridge is the Pelican River, which joins it from the north 3 miles west of 

 Fergus Falls. This stream, nearly 50 miles long in a straight line, flows 

 through a rolling and hilly region, receiving the waters of many lakes, of 

 which the largest are Detroit, Cormorant, Pelican, Lizzie, and Lida. 



From its bend at Breckenridge and Wahpeton the Red River flows 

 north 285 miles, measured in a direct line, to Lake Winnipeg. Its course 

 through this distance has been already described in an earlier portion of 

 this chapter, treating of the Red River Valley. The entire length of the 

 Red River, measured thus in straight lines successively to the south, west, 

 and north, is about 390 miles; but in its meanderings, nowhere diverging 

 far from these lines, it flows nearly 700 miles. Its descent below Brecken- 

 ridge is 233 feet, and in total from its source to its mouth approximately 

 840 feet. All the way below McCauleyville and Fort Abercrombie, 15 

 miles north of J^reckenridge, it is navigated by steamboats, barges, and 

 flatboats, but along the Goose Rapids, extending about 12 miles next below 

 the mouth of Goose River as measured in the meandering course of the 

 stream, the channel is obstructed by bowlders which forbid na%agation 

 during low stages of water. A broad belt of till, formed by the united 

 Fergus Falls and Leaf Hills moraines, as described in Chapter IV, causes 

 these rapids. The width of this river in the United States varies from G to 

 20 rods, being in some places less than the length of the steamboats; but 

 north of the international boundary it is commonly 20 rods wide. 



The range between the lowest and highest stages of the Red River 

 increases rapidly north of Breckenridge, becoming 32 feet at Moorhead and 

 Fargo, and attaining its maximum of 50 feet at Belmont. It continues 

 nearly at 40 feet from Grand Forks to the international boundary and to 

 Winnipeg. At Lower Fort Garry, 1 6 miles north of Winnipeg and about 

 20 miles from the mouth of the river, it is 35 feet; but beyond that point it 

 rapidly diminishes in approaching Lake Winnipeg. Floods rising nearly or 



