Knife River (Snake River tributary) facts for kids
The Knife River is a river in Minnesota, United States. It flows for about 27.4 miles (44.1 km). This river eventually joins the Snake River. There are actually three rivers in Minnesota called "Knife River"!
The name "Knife River" comes from the Dakota word Isaanti. Both Knife Lake and the Santee Sioux people are named after this river. Even Isanti County got its name from the Santee Sioux.
Where the Knife River Flows
The Knife River and its smaller streams collect water from a large area. This area covers about 102 square miles (264 square kilometers). It includes parts of Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties.
The river starts near Ernest Pool, close to Wahkon. It flows southeast for about 19 miles (31 km). Then, it reaches Knife Lake. After the lake, the river continues flowing southeast for another 5 miles (8 km). It finally meets the Snake River just north of Mora.
Near Mora, the Knife River usually carries about 63 cubic feet of water per second. This is its average flow each year.
Knife Lake and Its History
Only one main lake is connected to the Knife River, and that is Knife Lake. The Knife River does not have any very large rivers joining it.
However, this river was once a very important path for travel and trade. The Dakota and Ojibwe people used it. So did the Voyageurs, who were French-Canadian travelers. The river helped connect the Mississippi River (through Mille Lacs Lake) to the St. Croix River.
