Escanaba River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Escanaba River |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Gwinn |
| River mouth | Lake Michigan |
| Length | 52.2 miles (84 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 924 sq mi (2,390 km2) |
The Escanaba River is a river located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a state in the United States. It is about 52.2 miles (84 kilometers) long. This river is an important waterway that flows into Lake Michigan.
The famous poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow mentions the Escanaba River. The poem describes how Hiawatha "crossed the rushing Esconaba." The river is wide and cuts through limestone rock beds. The upper part of the river is very scenic and has many rocks. It is home to different types of trout, like brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Other fish that prefer warmer water also live in the river's wider, slower areas.
The Escanaba River is formed when two smaller rivers, the East Branch and the Middle Branch, join together. This happens in the town of Gwinn. From Gwinn, the river flows south. This part of the river is wide and smooth, making it great for canoeing. However, there are some dams on the river's branches, so people need to be careful. The river continues flowing south through Delta County. It finally reaches its end at Lake Michigan, near the city of Escanaba.
What is the Escanaba River Watershed?
The Escanaba River watershed is a very large area. It covers about 924 square miles (2,393 square kilometers). A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river or lake. This watershed has 508 miles (818 kilometers) of streams that flow all year long.
Where Does the River Start and End?
The Escanaba River watershed begins in the western part of Marquette County. This is north of Lake Michigan. The river then flows southeast. It ends when it empties into Little Bay de Noc, which is part of Lake Michigan.
What Does "Escanaba" Mean?
The name of this big river system and the city of Escanaba comes from an Ojibwe (also known as Chippewa) Native American word. This word means "flat rock." Many waterfalls made of limestone rock are found near Lake Michigan. Some of these waterfalls have been changed to create power or help make paper.
