The Flow

The 2 things that man never gets tired of watching?
The answer is fire and water. The 3 Stooges is a close 3rd. Charlies Angels
4th. Baywatch 5th. Just kidding with those last three. Fire and water...just
those 2.
 
How does a river get from point A to point B? Using
a couple of our most famous rivers...the Mississippi and the Colorado...let's
try to answer the question.
 
The mighty Mississippi flows for 3745 miles. It
starts in the state of Minnesota as a liitle brook. From Minnesota to St. Louis,
Missouri...the river is really helped along by man. Since there is such a drop
in elevation from Minnesota to Missouri...states have erected a system
of 29 locks and dams.It's fun to watch everything from barges to row-boats
being lowered and raised up inside the locks. So...the natural flow of the river
had to be slowed down.
 
The Colorado is 1450 miles long, flowing from
Colorado to Mexico. While there are many dams on this river also...it is
generally thought of as a wild river. In some places, such as the Grand
Canyon...the river storms through with the force of a Mack Truck. Such
power!
 
My little river, the Shiawassee doesn't have the
obstacles that a river like the Colorado has. But...a rock is a rock...and it
alters the course, it alters the flow of the river. When it does alter the
flow...it creates some interesting sights. In the big white-water
rivers...sometimes they create what they call hydraulics...dangerous spots where
the water and the effects it creates...can trap you. You get trapped...you
die.
 
The water flowed over this rock, and created some
white-water. It splashes up into the air. I like how the slow-shutter speed
takes the sun-spots, and turns them into lines. Water....love to watch
it.