THE SIXTH OR WACONIA MORAINE. 145 



this moraine south of Hobart, Sanbom, and Eckelson. They pro'oably 

 have, had a history hke that of the Spiritwood series of lakes, several 

 miles farther nortliwest, and of the similar chains of lakes extending from 

 north to south in Martin County, Minn., which are believed to occupy the 

 unfilled parts of preg'lacial or perhaps interglacial channels of drainage.^ 



Beyond Eckelson this moraine extends north-northwestward as a roll- 

 ing and knoUy l^elt, inconspicuous in any distant view, to the southeast 

 part of township 142, range 61, about 10 miles east of Spiritwood Lake. 

 There it is moderately rolling and occasionally hilly, a third to a half of 

 a mile wide, with more bowlders than the adjoining lower and only 

 slightlv undulating surface, both being till. Curving iiorth-northeastward, 

 it passes through sections 14, 12, and 1 of this township, being well 

 marked in the east part of section 1 as a belt of low morainic knolls, a 

 quarter of a mile wide. ()nw;trd through the next 6 miles northeast to 

 the south 2)art of section 11, township 143, range 60, this moraine forms a 

 belt, a half mile to 1 mile wide, of knolls and scattered steep hills, partly 

 composed of kame gravel and sand, with few bowlders, rising 40 to 75 

 feet above the general level, as conspicuously seen from Dazey. In sec- 

 tion 11 its coui'se seems again to be deflected nearly by a right angle, 

 passing- thence northwest and north through township 144, range 60, to 

 the vicinity of the Helena farm in section 29, township 145, range 60; 

 but along- this distance it is marked only by a rolling- contour, with no 

 prominent elevations. 



Continuing northward tlu'ough Griggs County, the Waconia moraine 

 becomes gradually more knolly and hilly, with increasing proportion of 

 bowlders, to its magnificent development in townshijjs 147 and 148, range 

 60, passing close east of Lake Sibley and west of the beautiful Lakes Addie 

 and Jessie, to Red Willow Lake. Along- the distance of 10 miles adjoining 

 these lakes the irregularh- piled masses of moramic drift, strewn with many 

 bowlders, rise 100 to 200 feet above the lakes, giving a measure of boldness 

 and even grandeur to the scenery, such as is rare in this ]ilain and prairie 

 region. West of Lake Sibley the fine agricultui-al tract of Blooming 

 Prairie has a nearly level surface npon a width of about 10 miles, includ 



' (icology of Miiiuesota, \ol. I, pp. 479— iS5, with I'l. 1.". 

 MON XXV 10 



