Concepts and Character of the Mississippi River as seen through the Records of Early Explorers
Published: March 11, 2015
Presented by Robert Criss, PhD, Washington University
Original Presentation, March 11, 2015 at Big A’s Restaurant, St. Charles
Illinois indians lead a group of french explorers, including Jacques Marquette & Louis Joliet, on the first recorded exploration of the Mississippi River.
With all the changes we’ve made to our big rivers, it can be difficult to imagine the natural character and shape, even the behavior of these rivers before we altered them. It can be really instructive to look back at the journals, letters and maps of early explorers for a window into the personalities of these rivers.
Dr. Robert Criss, Professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Washington University, presented “Concepts and Character of the Mississippi River as seen through the Records of Early Explorers.” Dr. Criss, author of “Finding the Balance between Floods, Flood Protection, and River Navigation” recently published by St. Louis University, is a strong advocate of sound floodplain management in our community and supports many grassroots efforts to improve the quality of life for our citizens.
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Resources & Links
Dig in for more info on this topic:
Research
Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis & Clark and the Revealing of America
Early Exploration and the Fur Trade
More by Dr. Robert Criss
Criss, R.E. and Kusky, T.M., editors (2009) Finding the Balance between Floods, Flood Protection, and River Navigation, published by Saint Louis University.
Criss, R.E. and Wilson, D.A., editors (2003) At the Confluence: Rivers, Floods, and Water Quality in the St. Louis Region, MBG Press, St. Louis, 278 p.
Criss R. E. (1999) Principles of Stable Isotope Distribution, Oxford University Press, New York, 264 p.
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in St. Charles
is hosted by these wonderful partners:
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- Missouri River Relief
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