Skylab Image of Wisconsin

This image was taken on the third Skylab mission in about 1974. It is an oblique view looking north which includes the northern ~80% of the state of Wisconsin in the foreground, although Lake Michigan coast is just off the image to the east. The east-west running portion of the Wisconsin River is at the extreme bottom of the photo, and ice covered Petenwell and Castle Rock Lakes are distinct along the north-south-running portion north of the Baraboo Hills. Cloud covered western Lake Superior dominates the northern half of the image. Ice on the lake borders the Chequamegon Peninsula of Wisconsin; the Keweenaw Peninsula of upper Michigan is just visible through the clouds. North of Lake Superior, Lake Nipigon in Ontario is clearly visible. The largely agricultural lands of the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin are clearly discernable from the more heavily forested northern third. The dark, rectangular patch about half-way up on the eastern side of the image is the Menominee Indian Reservation, which still contains many large old trees. The Mississippi River border between Wisconsin and Minnesota-Iowa can be seen in the lower left; the topography of the unglaciated (driftless) area is distinct. The valleys of the Chippewa and Black Rivers, which flow into the Mississippi from the east are also prominent.

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Last revised:
16-Apr-2003

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