List of rivers of Iowa facts for kids

Iowa is a state in the United States. It has many rivers and creeks flowing through it. This article will help you learn about these waterways! We'll look at them in a few different ways:

• Rivers that form the edges, or boundaries, of Iowa.
• Rivers grouped by their "drainage basin." This means all the smaller streams that flow into a bigger river.
• A simple list of all the rivers and creeks in alphabetical order.

Rivers on Iowa's Borders

The Des Moines River helps form part of Iowa's border.

Some rivers are so big and important that they form the natural borders of Iowa with other states. These rivers are like natural lines on a map!

• Mississippi River (borders Illinois and Wisconsin)
• Missouri River (borders Nebraska)
• Big Sioux River (borders South Dakota)
• Des Moines River (forms about 20 km (12 mi) of the border with Missouri)

Rivers by Drainage Basin

This section groups rivers by their "drainage basin." Think of a drainage basin like a giant funnel. All the rain and water that falls in that area eventually flows into one main river. All the rivers in Iowa are part of the huge Mississippi River Watershed. This watershed is split into two main parts in Iowa: the Upper Mississippi River Drainage Basin and the Missouri River Drainage Basin.

Upper Mississippi River Drainage Basin This basin includes all the rivers and creeks that flow into the Mississippi River from the eastern side of Iowa. Mississippi River Fabius River (MO) North Fabius River Wyaconda River Fox River Little Fox River Des Moines River Competine Creek White Breast Creek South River Middle River North River Raccoon River North Raccoon River South Raccoon River *Middle Raccoon River Beaver Creek Pea's Creek Davis Creek Boone River White Fox Creek Lizard Creek East Fork Des Moines River Skunk River Cedar Creek North Skunk River South Skunk River Thunder Creek Ioway Creek Flint River Iowa River Cedar River Wolf Creek Black Hawk Creek Beaver Creek West Fork Cedar River *Shell Rock River **Winnebago River ***Lime Creek Little Cedar River English River North English River *Middle English River *Deep River South English River South Fork Iowa River East Branch Iowa River West Branch Iowa River Duck Creek Wapsipinicon River Buffalo Creek Little Wapsipinicon River (south) Little Wapsipinicon River (north) Elk River Maquoketa River North Fork Maquoketa River Tete Des Morts Creek Catfish Creek Bee Branch Creek Little Maquoketa River Cloie Branch Turkey River Little Turkey River (Clayton County, Iowa) Volga River Little Turkey River (Fayette County, Iowa) Yellow River Bear Creek Norfolk Creek Upper Iowa River French Creek Bear Creek Waterloo Creek Canoe Creek Pine Creek (Canoe Creek) Trout River Pine Creek (Upper Iowa River tributary) Minnesota River (MN) Blue Earth River

Missouri River Drainage Basin This basin includes all the rivers and creeks that flow into the Missouri River from the western side of Iowa. Map showing the Iowa River and its path. Missouri River Chariton River South Fork Chariton River Grand River Thompson River Weldon River *Little River Platte River Nodaway River East Nodaway River East Fork East Nodaway River West Nodaway River Middle Nodaway River West Fork Middle Nodaway River *Rutt Branch Tarkio River Nishnabotna River East Nishnabotna River West Nishnabotna River Walnut Creek Silver Creek East Branch West Nishnabotna River West Fork West Nishnabotna River Keg Creek Mosquito Creek Boyer River Willow River East Boyer River Soldier River East Soldier River Middle Soldier River Little Sioux River Maple River Ocheyedan River Little Ocheyedan River West Fork Little Sioux River Floyd River West Branch Floyd River Little Floyd River Perry Creek Big Sioux River Broken Kettle Creek Rock River Little Rock River

Rivers and Creeks in Alphabetical Order

This is a simple list of all the rivers and creeks mentioned, arranged from A to Z.

See also

• List of rivers in the United States
• State Line Slough (Iowa)