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Getting to Know Our Big Rivers All Over Again:

The Dynamic World of Big Rivers and Why We Should Value Them More

Abstract
Big rivers are one of nature’s greatest gifts, yet much of what makes them special is often hidden in front of us. We see them as a threat when they run high but otherwise value them mostly for what we can move on top of them. In this presentation, Klinkenberg will peel back the layers in big river systems and show how they create and sustain life—life in many forms and in abundance. Big rivers give life because they are a complete system where every element (water, trees, grasses, rocks, sand) plays a role in sustaining a rich tapestry of life. Big rivers inspire us, are good for our well-being, and remind us that we are part of something bigger, not apart from it all. 
 
Bio
The Mississippi River first got in Dean Klinkenberg's blood when he was a college student at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, but he didn't begin writing about the river until many years later. Since 2007, he has been exploring the backwaters and backroads of the Mississippi River Valley, from the Headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. He’s worn out a car driving up and down the Great River Road and back up again (130,000 miles and counting), hiked to the tops of bluffs, paddled on the Mississippi River in kayaks and canoes, and floated in luxury for a few days as a guest lecturer on river cruises. Some of the stories he uncovers appear in his Mississippi Valley Traveler guidebooks. Others find a home in mysteries that are set in places along the Mississippi that feature hard-luck travel writer Frank Dodge. He has also written for publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The National, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. His newest book, The Wild Mississippi: A State-by-State Guide to the River's Natural Wonders, goes deep into the river's natural history and includes descriptions of 166 places where we can experience the river's world directly.

Related campus initiatives

Sustainability Transformational education

When

Past occurrences (1)

  • 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23

Where

Student Union Theatre, 120 Student Union

UWL campus map for building location and nearby parking lots.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Student Union

Contact

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations , contact Whitney George at 608.785.5107 or wgeorge@uwlax.edu.

Parking

Payment may be required. No permit?
Use Passport Parking.

Additional parking info
Website for Parking | Email for Parking | Call for Parking

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