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List of rivers of Minnesota facts for kids

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Map of watersheds and basins in Minnesota
Watersheds of Minnesota

Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles (111,000 km). The Mississippi River begins its journey from its headwaters at Lake Itasca and crosses the Iowa border 680 mi (1,094 km) downstream. It is joined by the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling, by the St. Croix River near Hastings, by the Chippewa River at Wabasha, and by many smaller streams. The Red River, in the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz, drains the northwest part of the state northward toward Canada's Hudson Bay.

By drainage basin (watershed)

This list is arranged by drainage basin with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name. The rivers and streams that flow through other states or Minnesota and other states are indicated, as well as the length of major rivers.

Great Lakes drainage basin

Lake Superior drainage basin

Lake Superior Watershed
Lake Superior drainage basin

Mississippi River drainage basin

Mississippi watershed map 1
Mississippi River drainage basin

The Mississippi River is the longest river flowing through Minnesota. It originates in Lake Itasca and flows through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Upper Mississippi River (below St. Anthony Falls) drainage basin

St. Croix River drainage basin

Stcroixmnwirivermap
St. Croix River drainage basin
  • Mississippi River
    • St. Croix River (Minnesota, Wisconsin), 169 mi-long (272 km)
      • Sunrise River, 39.1 mi-long (62.9 km)
        • North Branch Sunrise River
        • West Branch Sunrise River
        • South Branch Sunrise River
      • Snake River, 104 mi-long (167 km)
        • Groundhouse River, 39.8 mi-long (64.1 km)
          • South Fork Groundhouse River
          • West Fork Groundhouse River
        • Ann River, 14.4 mi-long (23.2 km)
          • Little Ann River, 11.9 mi-long (19.2 km)
        • Knife River, 27.4 mi-long (44.1 km)
      • Kettle River, 83.6 mi-long (134.5 km)
        • Grindstone River, 6.7 mi-long (10.8 km)
          • North Branch Grindstone River
          • South Branch Grindstone River
        • Pine River, 23.0 mi-long (37.0 km)
        • Willow River, 31.4 mi-long (50.5 km)
          • Little Willow River, 31.4 mi-long (50.5 km)
        • Moose Horn River, 36.4 mi-long (58.6 km)
          • Portage River, 8.8 mi-long (14.2 km)
          • West Fork Moose Horn River
        • Split Rock River, 20.4 mi-long (32.8 km)
        • Dead Moose River, 15.2 mi-long (24.5 km)
        • West Branch Kettle River
      • Sand Creek, 43.3 mi-long (69.7 km)
      • Lower Tamarack River, 39.0 mi-long (62.8 km)
      • Upper Tamarack River, 31.0 mi-long (49.9 km)
      • Brown's Creek (St. Croix River tributary), 9.7 mi-long (15.6 km)

Minnesota River drainage basin

Minnesotarivermap
Minnesota River drainage basin

The Minnesota River is the longest river that is entirely within Minnesota.

Upper Mississippi River, Headwaters region (above St. Anthony Falls) drainage basin

Hudson Bay drainage basin

Hudson-bassin
Hudson Bay drainage basin

The Red River of the North is the second longest river flowing through Minnesota. It forms the border with North Dakota and flows north to Manitoba, Canada.

Red River of the North drainage basin

Redrivernorthmap
Red River of the North drainage basin

Lake of the Woods drainage basin

  • Lake of the Woods
    • Warroad River
      • East Branch Warroad River
      • West Branch Warroad River
    • Rainy River, 137 mi-long (220 km)
      • Winter Road River
      • Baudette River
        • West Fork Baudette River
      • Rapid River
        • East Fork Rapid River
          • Barton Brook
          • Wing River
        • North Branch Rapid River
      • Black River
        • West Fork Black River
        • South Fork Black River
      • Big Fork River, 168 mi-long (270 km)
        • Bear River
        • Sturgeon River
        • Rice River
        • Popple River
          • Dunbar River
        • Bowstring River
          • Turtle River
      • Little Fork River, 160 mi-long (260 km)
        • Beaver Brook
        • Cross River
          • Deer River
        • Ester Brook
        • Nett Lake River
          • Lost River
        • Rapid River
        • Valley River
        • Willow River
        • Sturgeon River
          • Bear River
            • Bearskin River
          • Dark River
          • East Branch Sturgeon River
          • Shannon River
        • Rice River
      • Rainy Lake/Kabetogama Lake/Namakan Lake/Crane Lake
        • Rat Root River
          • East Branch Rat Root River
        • Ash River, 29 mi (47 km)
          • Black Duck River
        • Moose River
        • Johnson River
        • Vermilion River
        • Echo River
          • Hunting Shack River
        • Loon River
          • Little Indian Sioux River
            • Little Pony River
            • Korb River
        • Namakan River (Ontario)
          • Lac la Croix/Crooked Lake
            • Hustler River
            • Boulder River
              • Dahlgren River
                • Stuart River
              • Nina Moose River
                • Oyster River
                • Moose River
                • Portage River
            • Bottle River
            • Beartrap River
            • Basswood River
              • Horse River
              • Basswood Lake/Fall Lake
                • Range River
                • Shagawa River
                  • Burntside River
                    • Dead River
                • Bear Island River
                  • Beaver River
                • Kawishiwi River
                  • South Kawishiwi River
                    • Birch Lake
                      • Keeley Creek
                      • Birch River
                    • Isabella River
                      • Little Isabella River
                      • Island River
                        • Dumbbell River
                      • Perent River
                    • Snake River
                    • Stony River
                    • Dunka River
                  • Little Saganaga Lake/Gillis Lake
                    • Frost River
                    • Chub River
                  • Louse River
                  • Phoebe River
                • Knife River
                  • Knife Lake
            • Maligne River (Alberta)

Alphabetically

Below is a list of 495 of the 6,564 rivers in Minnesota in alphabetical order. Sections of rivers marked with an * have been designated trout streams by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Alphabetical list of rivers
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A–C

Alphabetical list of rivers
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

D–H

Alphabetical list of rivers
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I–L

Alphabetical list of rivers
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

M–O

Alphabetical list of rivers
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

P–R

Alphabetical list of rivers
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

S

Alphabetical list of rivers
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

T–Z

See also

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List of rivers of Minnesota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.