Saturday, April 12, 2008

Powerful water!

I know I said I would write about next year's plans, but instead I'm posting some photos my husband took of our field trip to Table Rock Lake Dam in Branson, Missouri today.

The dam has 10 gates to allow water through. My husband told me that when the Army Corps of Engineers built it, they said they could not imagine that all 10 would ever be needed. Here they are:


Count 'em. They're all open!


This one gives you a good case of vertigo, doesn't it? It's taken from the bridge above.


Here's m'boys! Good lookin', aren't they?


Here's my daughter, seated on rocks just above the river. My husband tried to take a picture right on the edge of the land, while he was braced against a tree. The water was much higher than usual and had undercut the ground under the tree. The piece he stepped on broke through under one foot. He dropped a few inches, but thankfully no further.


I just had to throw in one of our whole family at an overlook.

Here's some pictures from downstream a ways.

This dock (framed by the bridge) broke away. At the moment, its anchors are holding it firmly midstream. Should it hit the bridge (with lots of traffic crossing very slowly) . . . .

This "camping area" was evacuated at 3:00 Thursday morning right before the waters came thundering through. Do you see that curb in the bottom right corner? That's the edge of the Bass Pro parking lot. Believe it or not, there's a road under the water at the top left edge.

The ducks are enjoying it though!


So are the trees!

Um, that's Rockaway Beach. Picnic anyone? That's a picnic area with the roof. The tables seem to be anchored down, but they're floating as much as their chains allow.

Here's a close-up of that sign! I'd say that river is flowing w-a-a-a-y too fast to go swimming!

3 comments:

Mrs. Darling said...

My goodness what a lot of water! And what gorgoeus pics! That dam is awesome.

3 for school said...

We just learned they are closing some of the gates today. The water crested on Saturday so I'm glad we went then. I'm sure the folks in Branson are relieved.

They are good pics, aren't they? My husband is a very talented photographer, I think. Thank you for the compliment!

Ice Cream said...

Wow! I know they chain picinic tables down to prevent people from stealing them, but they sure come in handy during a flood. Just a reminder than man can only control nature so much.