Ocheyedan River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ocheyedan River |
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![]() The Ocheyedan River near Spencer in Clay County, Iowa
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Mouth of the Ocheyedan River
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Country | US |
State | Iowa, Minnesota |
District | Clay County, Iowa, O'Brien County, Iowa, Osceola County, Iowa |
Physical characteristics | |
Main source | 43°32′49″N 95°38′17″W / 43.547°N 95.638°W |
River mouth | Missouri River 43°08′10″N 95°09′11″W / 43.136°N 95.153°W |
The Ocheyedan River is a river in the United States. It flows for about 58 miles (93 kilometers) through parts of Minnesota and Iowa. This river is a tributary of the Little Sioux River. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
The Ocheyedan River is part of a much bigger water system. Its water eventually flows into the Little Sioux River, then into the mighty Missouri River, and finally into the huge Mississippi River. This means the Ocheyedan River's water travels all the way to the Gulf of Mexico! For much of its path, the river has been channelized. This means people have changed its natural shape to make it straighter or deeper, often for farming or to control floods.
Where Does the Ocheyedan River Flow?
The Ocheyedan River starts its journey from Ocheda Lake. This lake is located in Nobles County, Minnesota, which is about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of a town called Worthington.
From there, the river generally flows towards the southeast. It travels through several counties in Iowa. These counties include Osceola, O'Brien, and Clay Counties. The Ocheyedan River finally meets and joins the Little Sioux River near the town of Spencer.
The Little Ocheyedan River
In Osceola County, Iowa, the Ocheyedan River gets a little helper! A shorter river called the Little Ocheyedan River flows into it. The Little Ocheyedan River begins its journey near Hawkeye Point. Hawkeye Point is special because it's the highest spot in all of Iowa! This smaller river also flows southeast before joining the main Ocheyedan River.