Rivers and Roads

Video #2 of 3 (7/13/2024):
Welcome to the Temperance River! It is agreeable that she does have a temperament based on how the water levels vary often. You may have noticed that the water looks like Coca-Cola or Pepsi. We hate to rain on the parade, but that is not the case 😆! Rather, the coloration comes from what are called tannins.
They refer to an organic compound that has a bitter and astringent characteristic. The compound is often found in bark, leaves, or even roots of various plants such as conifers. Rain encourages the leeching of these compounds. Given that Minnesota had recent rain periods, the dots are connected. The tannins leech into the river, and it acts as a dye. For that reason, that is how the Temperance River gets its dark appearance.
It is a compound that you want to avoid consuming directly as it can be toxic in high doses. The Temperance River provides a demonstration for showing that much of the igneous rock can get shaped over the course of millennia.

[@kathleennorton2228]

Are fish able to survive with the tannins, do you know?

[@prycedurnye9880]

@kathleennorton2228 Yes, they can! Much of the fish that inhabit there, such as Smallmouth Bass, are adapted to living in such conditions.

[@kathleennorton2228]

​@@prycedurnye9880I wonder if caught if they would have a bit of a tannin flavor. It may be too dilute for that, though.