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the Degree Confluence Project
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United States : North Dakota

5.3 miles (8.5 km) N of Valley City, Barnes, ND, USA
Approx. altitude: 428 m (1404 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo aerial ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 47°S 82°E

Accuracy: 1 m (3 ft)
Quality:

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: The view to the north from the confluence point. #3: The view to the east from the confluence point. #4: The view to the south from the confluence point. #5: The view to the west from the confluence point. #6: GPS reading on two GPS receivers at the confluence point. #7: Joseph Kerski at the confluence point. #8: The ground cover at the confluence point. #9: If you see a car parked in the middle of nowhere, it’s probably me doing fieldwork. #10: The amazing high trestle bridge in Valley City to the south of the confluence point. #11: The confluence field… From the nearest road which is to the west of the point, looking south east.

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  47°N 98°W (visit #2)  

#1: The confluence point lies in the foreground of this view to the northwest.

(visited by Joseph Kerski)

29-May-2023 -- It had been two years since I had the opportunity to take a multi day trip just for collecting confluence points, seeing the landscape, and meeting local people. My goal was to connect my Minnesota points to the points east and south and west, in Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. To fill those gaps would require some planning but could be quite fun and doable. Thus after flying to Sioux Falls three days earlier and visiting 3 points, then 5 points on Day 2, and 4 points on Day 3, I still had plenty of energy for the final day - Day 4.

And thus after awakening at 5:30am and having a lovely campground walk near the lakes and in the trees of the Tipsinah Mounds campground, and then visiting 47 North 96 West in early morning, and then 47 North 97 West later this very morning. Following 47 97, it was still only a bit after 10:00am. Hence, I decided to squeeze in one more visit of this trip, to 47 North 98 West before I needed to depart the region out of an airport in South Dakota.

The fastest way from 47 N 97 W to 47 N 98 W was along I-94, and even though I had avoided interstate highways most of the previous three days of this trip, today to save time, I took the highway. But I left the highway to drive through some of the glacial lake terrain near Peak, North Dakota. This was very interesting. For some reason my GPS receivers first directed me to a point 4 miles northwest of the actual point, but once that issue was resolved, I bent back toward my destination, and ended up parking on the shoulder of the north-south highway to the northwest of the point that was my objective: 47 North 98 West.

Encountering no fences, I walked downslope to the southeast on a field that was mostly bare earth. Nothing had been planted so I didn't have to worry about stepping on any plants. After about 13 minutes from the vehicle, I reached the site. There were no fences and nobody working in the field here or anywhere I could see. Even so, I kept my visit brief. The sun was almost straight overhead but there was some wind and haze. It was a beautiful time of day and year in North Dakota: Late-morning, late spring. The point lies on largely flat ground but sloping to the southeast; thus the best view is off to the east and south. The temperature stood at about 89 F or 32 C; very pleasant indeed. I saw no animals and few birds. Some farmhouses can be seen from the point. This was the western edge of the mighty Red River plain--indeed, some of the flattest land in all of North America!

I have visited 47° North only a few times before, from Montana on the west to here in North Dakota and then to several points that are east of here in Minnesota. Each of these points at 47 North that I have visited are unique and wonderful. This was my third confluence visit of the day. I have a decent collection of over half the points in North Dakota now. I have also visited 98° west several times in the past from this point on the north end of that line, to 45 North 98 on a frozen day in March, on down to south Texas at 28 North 98 West. The points along 98 therefore are even more varied. It was amazing that I was the first visitor to this spot in North Dakota since the year 2000. I was on site for about 20 minutes. Due to the wind, I removed my map hat and placed it in my pocket so it wouldn't blow all the way to Canada. Just for fun I brought out 2 GPS units to see if I could zero out both of them at once. I took photos and video, and placed my video here: 47 North Latitude 98 West Longitude.

On my walk back to the vehicle I thought about the indigenous people who have traversed these lands for centuries and about the settlers of the 1800s with their wagons, many having arrived from Europe or the eastern USA, and encountering these vast skies and plans for the first time. These were all hardy souls--they do experience all seasons out here - freezing cold, blistering heat, wind...

It was just before noon now and I had a long way to travel--to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where I began my trek and where my flight would depart me from this wonderful region. I drove south under a magnificent railroad trestle at Valley City, then east along I-94, and south on I-29 to Sioux Falls. I arrived at the airport with over an hour to spare, so I could have squeezed in one more confluence visit, but... I had visited 15 points in 4 states over 4 days and was content. What an epic trip it had been!

When the trip was all said and done, here are the final statistics:

 
Confluence points attempted:  15.  

Confluence points successfully visited:  15. 

Points where I met the local landowner = 4 of 15 points. 

Miles = 1731, Kilometers = 2785.  

Campgrounds = 3.  

Windy confluence points:  6 of 15.

Beautiful confluence points:   15 of 15.

Kwik Trip convenience store stops = 5.  Casey's = 1.  Circle K = 1.  Flying J = 1.  

Points along 	43 North 4 
		44 North 3 
		45 North 4 
		46 North 1 
		47 North 3 
		-------------
			 15 points.

Points visited on 	Day 1 = 3 
			Day 2 = 5 
			Day 3 = 4 
			Day 4 = 3
		-------------------
			   	15 points.  

Points visited in the 	morning = 	5 
			afternoon = 	7 
			evening = 	3 
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points

Points visited in 	Minnesota =     6
			North Dakota =  2
			Wisconsin =     3 
			Iowa =          4
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points 

Get out there and explore!


 All pictures
#1: The confluence point lies in the foreground of this view to the northwest.
#2: The view to the north from the confluence point.
#3: The view to the east from the confluence point.
#4: The view to the south from the confluence point.
#5: The view to the west from the confluence point.
#6: GPS reading on two GPS receivers at the confluence point.
#7: Joseph Kerski at the confluence point.
#8: The ground cover at the confluence point.
#9: If you see a car parked in the middle of nowhere, it’s probably me doing fieldwork.
#10: The amazing high trestle bridge in Valley City to the south of the confluence point.
#11: The confluence field… From the nearest road which is to the west of the point, looking south east.
ALL: All pictures on one page