North River (Minnesota) facts for kids
 Mouth of the North River
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| Country | United States |
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| State | Minnesota |
| County | Lake County, St. Louis County |
Quick facts for kids Physical characteristics |
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| Main source | Greenwood Lake West 47°34′19″N 91°44′47″W / 47.5718606°N 91.746272°W |
| River mouth | Babbitt SE 47°30′48″N 91°47′44″W / 47.5132524°N 91.7954433°W |
| Length | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | St. Louis River |
The North River is a small but very important river in northeastern Minnesota, United States. It flows for about 6 miles (9.6 km). Even though it's short, it plays a big role! It is considered the very beginning, or "source," of the huge Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River system. Imagine, a tiny river starting a journey that flows all the way to the Atlantic Ocean!
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Where the North River Flows
The North River is located in the beautiful state of Minnesota. Most of this river is found in Lake County. However, its outlet, which is where its water flows out, is in St. Louis County.
The North River's Starting Point
The North River begins its journey from a place called Greenwood Lake West. This is where the first trickles of water gather to form the river. From there, the water travels about 6 miles until it reaches its mouth.
Connecting to Bigger Waters
The North River is one of the main rivers that feed into a lake called Seven Beaver Lake. Another important river that flows into this lake is the East River.
Seven Beaver Lake is super important because it is the source of the Saint Louis River. So, the North River's water eventually joins the St. Louis River.
The Saint Louis River's Journey
The Saint Louis River is a much larger river. It flows for about 192 miles (309 km). It eventually empties into Lake Superior, which is one of the five Great Lakes.
The North River: A Source of the Great Lakes
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency that studies the Earth. They have identified the North River as the most distant "headwaters" of the entire drainage basin of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River system.
What are Headwaters?
"Headwaters" are the very beginning of a river. Think of it as the starting point where a river's journey begins. For the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence system, the North River is that key starting spot.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River System
The Great Lakes are a group of five huge freshwater lakes in North America. They are Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. They hold a massive amount of the world's fresh surface water.
The St. Lawrence River connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. It's a very important waterway for shipping and trade. So, the water from the small North River eventually travels through this huge system all the way to the ocean!
This makes the North River a truly special place, as it's the tiny beginning of a massive and important water system.
