{"id":13651,"date":"2024-01-12T16:55:27","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13651"},"modified":"2024-01-12T16:55:27","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:55:27","slug":"where-is-tower-rock-on-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/where-is-tower-rock-on-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Is Tower Rock On Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tower Rock is an awe inspiring landmark on the great Mississippi River. It is comprised of two massive red sandstone rocks that stand hundreds of feet tall, as if they were once part of an ancient castle’s wall in the wilds of the Midwest. Tower Rock is located in Southeast Missouri, near the town of East Prairie, just upstream from the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. It is the largest and most interesting rock formation in the area, comparable in grandeur to the Watchtower at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming or the Oxbow of the Colorado River near Lees Ferry in Arizona.<\/p>\n

The geological history of Tower Rock is fascinating. It is believed that the rock formation existed during the Cretaceous period 140 million years ago when the area was a shallow sea full of tiny organisms that left behind fossilized remains. Over time, erosion and deposition layered other materials onto the rock formation and more fossils were left behind contributing to its interesting shape. There are many fossils of invertebrates and early vertebrates including fish, crabs, clams and some coral species that can be seen with the naked eye at Tower Rock.<\/p>\n

Tower Rock is a popular view point and destination for locals, tourists and photographers all over the world. The first issue of the Park Ranger Magazine featured Tower Rock in it’s April edition in 1953, celebrating the formation’s beauty. The local tourist association even provides guided tours of the area. They provide visitors with a unique look into the area’s ecology and the story of Tower Rock’s development.<\/p>\n

The area is also heavily visited for its fantastic sport fishing. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized Tower Rock as an ecologically valuable instream habitat for sport fish, including paddlefish, sauger, bass and catfish. Tower Rock even offers a sanctuary for bald eagles that come to feed on the fish in the area. It also serves a vital habitat for other aquatic species, including freshwater mussels and macroinvertebrates.<\/p>\n