Editing Lake Agassiz (section)

== Formation of beaches ==
[[Raised beach]]es, many kilometres from any current water, mark the former boundaries of the lake. While the Red River gradually descends from south to north, these old [[High water mark|strandlines]] ascend as one goes north, due to [[isostatic rebound]] since glaciation.<ref name=Ojakangas/>

=== When Lake Agassiz outflowed to the south ===
The highest shore of Lake Agassiz is called the [[Herman Beach]]. It is named for [[Herman, Minnesota]], in [[Grant County, Minnesota|Grant County]]. The Herman Beach is the highest shoreline and can be traced from the historic outlet at [[Traverse Gap|Lake Traverse]] on the border of Minnesota and South Dakota. The beach fluctuates between {{convert|973|and|976|ft|m|round=0.5}} above sea level. <!-- the following sentence doesn't make sense... -->The altitude of Lake Traverse at {{convert|971|ft|m}} above sea level at the [[Traverse Gap]] at [[Browns Valley, Minnesota|Brown's Valley]] is at {{convert|980|ft|m}}.<ref name=UphamVII/>  This was the south outlet of Lake Agassiz.<ref name=UphamVI>The Glacial Lake Agassiz;, Monographs of the United States Geological Survey, Volume XXV; Warren Upham; Government Printing Office, Washington; 1895; Chapter VI</ref>

The Herman Beach displays numerous deltas from the major rivers that entered Lake Agassiz. In Minnesota and North Dakota, these include the Buffalo River Delta, Sand Hill River Delta, Sheyenne River Delta, Elk Valley Delta, and the Pembina River Delta. In Manitoba, there is the Assiniboine River Delta.<ref name=UphamVI/><!-- is this to be part of the following list? -->
* ''Beaches of the Norcross'' stages: The Norcross shoreline lies near the Herman shore on the slope of eroded till.<ref name=UphamVII>The Glacial Lake Agassiz;, Monographs of the United States Geological Survey, Volume XXV; Warren Upham; Government Printing Office, Washington; 1895; Chapter VII</ref>
* ''Beaches of the Tintah'' Stage: The Tintah beaches are {{convert|1040|to|1055|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name=UphamVII/>
* ''Beaches of the Campbell'' Stage: These have a well developed profile and are useful in establishing the boundary of the lake when it ceased to flow south into the River Warren.<ref name=UphamVII/>
*  ''Beaches of the McCauleyville'' Stage: The channel of the River Warren, flowing out of Lake Agassiz, eroded the channel below the level of Traverse Lake and [[Big Stone Lake]], down to {{convert|935|ft|m}}, the deepest part of Lake Traverse. The southern portions of the McCauleyville shoreline coincides with the levels of high and low water in Lake Traverse, which are {{convert|976|to|970|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name=UphamVII/>

=== When Lake Agassiz outflowed to the northeast ===
Fourteen shorelines of Lake Agassiz have been identified, which lie below the McCauleyville beaches. These formed when the River Warren could no longer receive the outflow of the lake. This occurred when a lower outlet was found and the lake shrank with the release of the lake's waters.<ref name=UphamVIII>The Glacial Lake Agassiz;, Monographs of the United States Geological Survey, Volume XXV; Warren Upham; Government Printing Office, Washington; 1895; Chapter VIII</ref> The three highest shorelines are named the Blanchard beaches, and the next five in descending order are the Hillsboro, the two Emerado, and the two Ojata beaches, from towns on or near their course in North Dakota.<ref name=UphamVIII/>

* ''Beaches of the Blanchard'' Stage (Hillsboro Beach): Three successive levels of the lake pass near [[Blanchard, North Dakota]]. They are indicated by sand and gravel deposits {{convert|5|to|7|mi|km}} southeast of [[Euclid, Minnesota]]., and near [[Midway station, Manitoba]]<ref name=UphamVIII/> The next lower beach is called the Hillsboro Beach and is visible near [[Glyndon, Minnesota]], and {{convert|5|to|15|mi|km}} north of [[Crookston, Minnesota]].<ref name=UphamVIII/>
* ''Beaches of the Emerado'' Stage: The Emerado shoreline is approximately {{convert|885|ft|m}} above sea level. Its southern tip is across the Red River between [[Kragnes, Minnesota]], and [[Harwood, North Dakota]]. This single shoreline, clearly shows that it belongs to a period when the lake flowed northeastward to its outlet. Crustal rebound was greater to the north, where the Emerado Beach, in Manitoba, is {{convert|10|to|20|ft|m}} higher.<ref name=UphamVIII/>
* ''Beaches of the Ojata'' Stage: The upper Ojata shoreline is between {{convert|870|and|875|ft|m}} above sea level near [[Perley, Minnesota]], and [[Noble, North Dakota]]. In Minnesota it is {{convert|2|to|6|mi|km}} east of the Red River. Some of the shore is marked by a beach ridge, especially to the north, where the surface is till.<ref name=UphamVIII/>
* ''Gladstone Beach'': The southern tip of Lake Agassiz when <!-- this sentence is also not making sense...  -->Gladstone beach formed is near [[Belmont, North Dakota]], {{convert|20|m|km}} south of [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]], it lies {{convert|845|ft|m}} above sea level. It runs northward about {{convert|10|mi|km}} east of the Red River.<ref name=UphamVIII/>
* ''Burnside Beach'': <!-- also super confusing?!? too many directions -->The Burnside Beach crosses the Red River at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and to the northeast, then north, paralleling the Red River  {{convert|10|to|13|m|km}} to the east. This beach is indistinct south of the international border. The beach lies {{convert|835|to|840|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name=UphamVIII/>
* ''Ossowa Beach'': The Ossowa Beach lies only a few miles south of the international boundary. The beach lies {{convert|815|to|820|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name=UphamVIII/>
* ''Stonewall Beach'': In [[Stonewall, Manitoba]], there is a conspicuous beach ridge {{convert|0.33|mi|km}} or more. Its crest is {{convert|820|to|825|ft|m}} above sea level and about {{convert|10|ft|m}} deep. Beach deposits belonging to this stage were not observed elsewhere in southern Manitoba. It is believed that they are buried for most of their length from the U.S. side of the border, north to [[Winnipeg]]<ref name=UphamVIII/>
* ''Beaches of the Niverville'' Stage: About {{convert|0.5|mi|km|1}} southeast of [[Niverville, Manitoba|Niverville]] the road crosses this beach. Its crest is {{convert|777|to|778|ft|m}} above sea level. It stands {{convert|4|ft|m}} above the surrounding surface. Beginning near Niverville station, it extends southeasterly at least a mile. About {{convert|0.33|mi|km}} south, a similar beach ridge crest is at {{convert|780|ft|m}} above sea level. It rises {{convert|2|to|4|ft|m}} above the land. Much of it [[Slough (hydrology)|sloughs]], with water throughout the year, the elevation of the beach crest is {{convert|782|to|784|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name=UphamVIII/>