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Black River (St. Clair River tributary) facts for kids

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For other "Black Rivers" in Michigan, see Black River (Michigan).
Quick facts for kids
Black River
A color photograph of the Black River as viewed from a bridge in Port Huron, Michigan
The Black River in Port Huron
A map of the Black River and its watershed
A map of the Black River and its watershed
Country United States
State Michigan
Counties Sanilac, St. Clair
Physical characteristics
Main source northern Sanilac County
43°41′00″N 82°48′55″W / 43.68333°N 82.81528°W / 43.68333; -82.81528
River mouth St. Clair River, Port Huron
574 ft (175 m)
42°58′19″N 82°25′06″W / 42.97194°N 82.41833°W / 42.97194; -82.41833
Length 81 miles (130 km)
Basin features
Basin size 711 sq mi (1,840 km2)

The Black River is a cool river in the United States state of Michigan. It's about 81 miles (130 km) long! The river flows into the St. Clair River in the city of Port Huron. There's even a special Black River Canal in northern Port Huron that stretches out into Lake Huron.

The river starts way up north in Sanilac County. Its water collection area, called a drainage basin, is huge! It covers about 711 square miles (1,840 km²) across parts of Sanilac, St. Clair, and Lapeer counties. In many places, the river has been changed to help farmers water their crops. Did you know that the city of Croswell was originally named Black River when it was founded in 1845?

River's Journey and Branches

The Black River has many smaller streams and drains that flow into it. These are called tributaries. Think of them as smaller arms reaching out to collect water and bring it to the main river.

Main Tributaries

Some of the main tributaries that join the Black River include:

  • Mill Creek
  • Black Creek (also known as Seymour Creek)
  • Elk Creek (sometimes called Elk River)

These larger branches also have their own smaller streams and drains that feed into them, creating a big network of waterways that all contribute to the Black River.

Where the River Flows

The Black River and its many branches flow through several different areas in Michigan. This entire area is called its drainage basin.

Lapeer County Areas

A small part of the Black River's water comes from areas in Lapeer County, including:

St. Clair County Areas

The river also flows through many parts of St. Clair County, including:

Sanilac County Areas

A large part of the Black River's journey is through Sanilac County, touching many towns and townships like:

Images for kids

  • Black River Valley

    Looking down into the Black River Valley on a foggy morning.

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Black River (St. Clair River tributary) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.