Wisconsin River is a beautiful stream that rises in Lac Vieux Desert on the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary. It flows south to Portage, Wis., and then turns westward. The Wisconsin empties into the Mississippi River below Prairie du Chien. It is about 430 miles (692 kilometers) long. The river was an important waterway in pioneer days. Today, there are a number of power dams and reservoirs along the river, and the upper Wisconsin River Valley is a leading paper-producing area.
Near the town of Wisconsin Dells, the Wisconsin River forms one of the most scenic spots in North America. Here the stream has cut through the sandstone rock to a depth of about 150 feet (46 meters). It forms canyon walls cut in unusual shapes.
