Mustinka River facts for kids
The Mustinka River is a river in western Minnesota, United States. It is about 68 miles (109 km) long. This river flows into Lake Traverse. From there, its waters travel through several other rivers and lakes, eventually reaching Hudson Bay. The Mustinka River is part of a large area of land called a watershed, which means all the rain and snow that falls in this area eventually flows into the river. This watershed covers about 909 square miles.
The name "Mustinka" comes from the Dakota language. It means "rabbit," which is a fun fact about the river's history!
Where the Mustinka River Flows
The Mustinka River begins in southwestern Otter Tail County, near Fergus Falls. It starts by flowing south into Grant County. Along its journey, it passes through two smaller lakes: Stony Brook Lake and Lightning Lake.
As it continues, the river turns west in southern Grant County. It then flows past the town of Norcross. After that, it enters Traverse County. In Traverse County, the river changes direction again, heading southwest past the town of Wheaton.
Finally, the Mustinka River flows into the northern part of Lake Traverse from the east. This is about 7 miles southwest of Wheaton.
River Changes
Over time, people have changed parts of the Mustinka River. Much of the lower part of the river has been made straight and channelized. This means its natural curves were removed to help control water flow.
Mustinka River's Tributaries
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. One important tributary of the Mustinka River is Twelvemile Creek.
