Shut-Ins State Park
July 21, 2010
Photographer: Tommy Hornbeck
Summary Author: Tommy Hornbeck
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is located along the east fork of the Black River approximately 80 miles (128 km) southwest of St. Louis, Missouri. The Black River arises in the Saint Francois Mountains which were formed by volcanic activity about one and a half billion years ago making these mountains among the oldest in the United States. The term "shut-ins" refers to a narrowing of the river where it starts to cut into the precambrian igneous rock below, creating cascades. This little area is a pleasant place to cool off on a hot summer day and a popular spot for photographers. An easy quarter mile (0.4 km) walk from the parking lot leads to the Shut-Ins overlook. The park has been reopened recently following a catastrophic flood in 2005 that was caused by a dam failure at the Taum Sauk Reservoir. Photo taken on June 9, 2010.
Photo details: Camera Maker: NIKON; Camera Model: D80; Focal Length: 28mm; Aperture: f/27; Exposure Time: 0.5 s; ISO equiv: 100