1985 Map of Decorah

About this map

The Upper Mississippi River Wild Life and Fish Refuge dominates the eastern boundary of this mid-1980s landscape, where the Mississippi River carves a complex network of channels and islands, including Big Lake and Winneshiek Lake. This transition from the river bottomlands to the limestone bluffs of Northeast Iowa is marked by a concentration of subterranean features, such as Wonder Cave, Ice Cave, and Spook Cave. The region's indigenous history is preserved at Effigy Mounds National Monument, while the more recent nineteenth-century settlement pattern is visible along the Old Stage Road and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad line. Deeply incised valleys created by the Upper Iowa River and its tributaries like Canoe Creek support diverse ecological zones, including the Bluffton Fir Stand State Preserve and the extensive Yellow River State Forest. Local agricultural centers like Decorah, Waukon, and Lansing serve as anchors for the surrounding townships.