Maple River (North Dakota) facts for kids

The Maple River is a river in eastern North Dakota, United States. It's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one, called the Sheyenne River. The Maple River is about 198 miles (319 kilometers) long.

Its waters travel a long way! They flow into the Sheyenne River, then the Red River of the North. From there, the water goes into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. Finally, it reaches the Nelson River, which empties into Hudson Bay. This means the Maple River is part of a huge water system that stretches across North America.

River's Journey

The Maple River flows through several counties in North Dakota. These include Steele, Barnes, Cass, and Ransom counties.

The river starts as a stream near the town of Finley. Sometimes, this part of the stream can dry up. It generally flows south towards Enderlin.

After Enderlin, the river changes direction. It turns northeast and flows past Mapleton. The Maple River then joins the Sheyenne River about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of West Fargo. This meeting point is not far from where the Sheyenne River itself joins the Red River.

Near Enderlin, another small river joins the Maple River. This is called the South Branch Maple River. It flows entirely within northern Ransom County before meeting the main Maple River.

Images for kids

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  Map of the Red River of the North drainage basin, with the Maple River highlighted

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  The Maple River south of Chaffee in 2005

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  The Maple River near Mapleton in 2004