Menomonee Falls in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Sub-Continental Divide
Photographed By Linda Hansen, October 20, 2021
1. Sub-Continental Divide Marker
Inscription.
Sub-Continental Divide. . Part of the sub-continental divide runs through the eastern edge of Waukesha County, separating the Great Lakes watershed from the Mississippi River watershed. The divide is a ridge of land, created by thawing and receding glaciers 10,000 years ago. Water that falls west of the ridge flows into the Fox River and other small waterways joining into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. Water that falls east of the ridge flows towards Lake Michigan, part of the Great Lakes watershed, flowing eventually through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The map here shows where the sub-continental divide lies north-south through eastern Waukesha County.
Part of the sub-continental divide runs through the eastern edge of Waukesha County, separating the Great Lakes watershed from the Mississippi River watershed. The divide is a ridge of land, created by thawing and receding glaciers 10,000 years ago. Water that falls west of the ridge flows into the Fox River and other small waterways joining into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. Water that falls east of the ridge flows towards Lake Michigan, part of the Great Lakes watershed, flowing eventually through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The map here shows where the sub-continental divide lies north-south through eastern Waukesha County.
Erected 1959 by Waukesha County Historical Society. (Marker Number 15-01.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 43° 10.499′ N, 88° 8.185′ W. Marker is in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 74) and Westchester Drive, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Menomonee Falls WI 53051, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The original 1959 marker had the following text:
The eastern portion of Waukesha County has a major sub-continental divide as shown by the line in the map. Water falling west of this crest of land goes into the Fox River watershed and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. Water falling on the east side goes into the Menomonee River watershed and enters the St. Lawrence Seaway by flowing through the Great Lakes.
Photographed By Paul F, June 22, 2010
3. Original Sub-Continental Divide Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 4,098 times since then and 280 times this year. Last updated on October 25, 2021, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Photos:1. submitted on October 25, 2021, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. 2, 3. submitted on June 22, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.