A Photographic Journey up the Missouri River in North Dakota - Oahe Dam and Lake Oahe

Aerial Photograph of Oahe Dam

July 15, 1991

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Fort Pierre [South Dakota] and the Adjacent Prairie

Lithograph by Karl Bodmer from Travels in the Interior of North America, 1832-1834 by Maxmilian, Prince of Wied

1832-1834

Credit: National Archives and Records Administration, Still Pictures Branch

Oahe Reservoir and Missouri River, South Dakota, U.S.A. August 1989

The Oahe Reservoir in this low-oblique photograph is one of many dams and reservoirs constructed in the late 1940s and the 1950s along the Missouri River, from eastern Montana through North Dakota and South Dakota. These reservoirs were built to provide flood control, hydroelectric power, irrigation, and recreation. Dams like the Oahe serve to impound, for later use, water from spring rains and snowmelt that swells the volume of the Missouri River during early and mid-spring. The dams also protect the countryside from a second flood stage 
that frequently occurs in June as the snow melts in the remote mountain systems to the west. Pierre, the capital of South Dakota, is barely discernible near the center of the photograph just southeast of the Oahe Dam, where the Bad River from the southwest joins the Missouri River.

Credit: NASA's Earth From Space web site http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov

Lake Oahe and Oahe Dam, South Dakota, U.S.A. September 1992

Lake Oahe and Oahe Dam, completed in 1958 and one of the largest rolled-earth dams in the United States, are featured in this infrared, low-oblique photograph. Stretching from near Pierre, South Dakota, to just south of Bismarck, North Dakota, Lake Oahe is approximately 250 miles (402 kilometers) long. Visible to the east of the lake are numerous agricultural fields, and to the west is a rolling grassland. The name Oahe comes from the old Oahe Indian Mission that was established in 1874 a short distance from the present dam. The reservoir was constructed as part of the Missouri River Reclamation Project to provide flood control, hydroelectric power, irrigation, and recreation.

Credit: NASA's Earth From Space web site http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov

Oahe Reservoir, South Dakota August, 1997

The fourth largest in the United States, the Oahe Reservoir can be seen in this low-oblique view. Located on the Missouri River 5 miles (8 km) north of Pierre, South Dakota, the Oahe Reservoir stretches 231 miles (371 km) northward to just south of Bismarck, North Dakota (not visible on the image). The Oahe Dam is the second largest earthfill structure of its kind in the world. The lake has nearly 2250 miles (3523 km) of shoreline and is a very popular recreational area known for its excellent fishing. The dam also provides flood control, hydroelectric power, and irrigation. Numerous agricultural field patterns can be seen to the east of the reservoir. The Cheyenne River joins Oahe Reservoir near the Fort Sully Game Refuge (peninsula jutting out into lake).

Credit: NASA's Earth From Space web site http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov

Oblique aerial photograph of the Missouri River and Mobridge, South Dakota prior to construction of Oahe Dam and filling of Lake Oahe

April 11, 1952

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey, EROS Data Center

Oblique aerial photograph of the Missouri River and Mobridge, South Dakota prior to construction of Oahe Dam and filling of Lake Oahe

April 11, 1952

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey, EROS Data Center

Lake Oahe, North Dakota, U.S.A. October 1985

Lake Oahe, 250 miles (403 kilometers) long, was completed in the 1950s and is used for recreation, irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power. The northern portion of the lake is featured in this low-oblique photograph. The Missouri River Valley in which the lake sits is approximately 300 to 500 feet (92 to 153 meters) deep and is surrounded by bluffs and hills on either side. Land east of the lake was covered with ice age glaciers nearly 10 000 years ago, but land west of the lake was not touched by glaciation. Visible are agricultural fields to the east of the lake and to the west the hilly terrain of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

Credit: NASA's Earth From Space web site http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov

Missouri River in background

Chief Sitting Bull's camp south of Standing Rock Agency or Fort Yates, North Dakota, near Missouri River; over 25 Dakota Native American tepees camped above river bottom with drying or tanning racks outside several tepees, some individuals, horses and two wagons in camp.

Created/Published 1883 or 1884

Credit: Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library

View of Fort Yates, North Dakota, showing houses, church, buildings, barracks and Missouri River in background.  Man in cart with horse is in foreground.

Created/Published between 1874 and 1889

Credit: Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library

Fort Yates and Standing Rock Agency, North Dakota, overview from ridge looking towards Missouri River; Agency buildings and residences in foreground; fort buildings center background

Created/Published between 1875 and 1889

Credit: Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library

Fort Yates, North Dakota, overview of Fort and Standing Rock Agency from rise looking towards Missouri River; Catholic priest's residence (enclosed by picket fence) and Catholic church with small steeple viewed center foreground; numerous other Agency two-story wooden frame buildings, corrals, picket and board fencing on left; fort buildings and residences center right.

Created/ Published between 1875 and 1889

Credit: Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library

Proceed on to
the Cannonball River