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Noah asked if we remembered the flood that devastated Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1997. I recalled images of frantic residents erecting sandbag dikes in the pouring rain, but Noah explained that officials had evacuated some 50,000 people from the valley that year. Apparently Grand Forks, which was located some 160 river miles north of Fargo, had been built on the bed of Lake Agassiz—land so flat, he said, “you can stand on your tiptoes and see a hundred miles.” He went on to explain that many scientists now believe Lake Agassiz melted and drained due to a rapidly warming climate around 7000 BC, causing sea levels to rise around the world, and possibly touching off the Biblical flood.

We found Kocher’s van, and Noah and I returned to Lindenwood Campground to find José where we’d left him, seated at the picnic table. I told José that Noah had decided to do a story about our journey for his radio station. Then I asked Noah to tell José about Lake Agassiz and the great flood that created this flat region.