Raindrops and snow melt high in the Montana mountains tend to slide and travel to the southeast.
Meanwhile, rain and snow from the western portion of Pennsylvania, and portions of New York state, end up with stream and river buddies floating west and south.
They meet in the Mississippi River. The Missouri River, with help from hundreds of smaller rivers and streams, pours western water into the river several miles north of the city of St. Louis. The Ohio River, carrying water from eight or more eastern states enters in a sparsely population region east of Charleston, MO.
In the above photo, they are well mixed passing New Madrid, MO. They have had a good many miles to blend.
When steamboats ruled the river and carried new immigrants to affordable land and growing cities, they passed a total of ten islands between New Madrid and the mouth of the Ohio River. Imagine young adults and families with small children watching the shore activities as they moved to a new home. Did any of your ancestors make a similar journey?
New Dreams, a sweet romance, recounts 1851 adventures going to and living in the fictional town of Elm Ridge, Illinois. Yes, a river town north of St. Louis. Book information here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE
