Flight height: 9,500 feet a.s.l.; lens focal length: 152.13 mm
Scale: 1:17,400 (approx.)
Date: September 5, 1964
Location: Township 4; Range 8WI
Map sheets: 1:250,000 62G Brandon
1:50,000 62G/15 MacGregor
62G/16 Portage la Prairie
Agricultural Fields West of Portage la Prairie
Shown on this large-scale photograph are parts of four whole sections and parts of nine sections. Draining northeast across the area is the wooded (dark-toned) course of Willow Bend Creek 1, which eventually enters Lake Manitoba, off the photo to the north. A small tributary enters from the southeast 2, and another small stream drains north to join it 3. The orientation of fields in the northeast 4 suggests the influence of strandlines left as Lake Manitoba retreated northeastward to achieve its present size.
The photo was taken in early September at which time harvesting of grain crops was well underway. In most of the light-toned fields swath lines can be seen exhibiting the characteristic pattern 5. The line down the middle and the lines out to the corners are located where the combine turned. Some fields have been left fallow 6. In these and in some cropped fields dark-toned wet patches 7 indicate recent heavy precipitation that may have delayed the harvest. The area is sparsely populated; nine farmsteads 8 can be seen in an area of about six square miles. Crossing the area in the south are three transport lines; the CN railway line 9, the CP line 10, and the Trans-Canada Highway 11 between them. On this old photo the highway is not divided, and the important junction between it and PTH16 12 (The Yellowhead Route) has only one building near it 13.