The James River flows from the northern boarder of North Dakota through the center of the state, down to the southern boarder. Flows is being generous. There is a total of 3 feet of drop in elevation from the north to the south. Three feet of drop! That means that the James river is essentially a long thin lake in North Dakota. It has the slowest current of any river in the US. This is a bend in the James at Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge near Carrington…a panorama of two shots stitched in PhotoMerge in PhotoShop Elements 10. You can view it full width by clicking the image.

And yes, the water was that color blue!

Canon SX40HS. Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation.  Two 24mm equivalent shots. f4 @ 1/1250th @ ISO 100. Stitched, as above, in PhotoShop Elements. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.