Ounce River facts for kids

The Ounce River is a river in northwestern Wisconsin, United States. It is about 25.2 miles (40.6 km) long. The Ounce River is a smaller river that flows into a larger one, called the Totagatic River. Think of it like a small stream joining a bigger river!

The Ounce River starts in the southwestern part of Bayfield County, Wisconsin. From there, it flows southwest until it reaches Douglas County, Wisconsin. That's where it meets the Totagatic River.

Where Does the Ounce River Flow?

The Ounce River is part of a huge water system that eventually reaches the Mississippi River. After joining the Totagatic River, its water flows into the Namekagon River. Then, it moves into the St. Croix River. All these rivers are connected, like branches of a tree, and they all carry water towards the mighty Mississippi River. This whole network of rivers and streams is called a watershed or drainage basin. It means all the rain and snow that falls in this area eventually drains into these rivers and flows to one main spot.

How Did the Ounce River Get Its Name?

The name "Ounce River" was officially chosen in 1938 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. This board is in charge of naming places in the U.S.

But the river had other names before that! It was sometimes called "Ounse River" or "Owense River." These names actually came from a longer name: "Totacaticonce River" or "Totogaticanse River."

In the Ojibwemowin (the language of the Ojibwe people), the word "Totogatic River" means "River of Boggy Riverway." The Ojibwe people added a special ending to the name, ens or oons. This ending means "little" or "small." So, "Totogaticanse" meant "Small Totagatic River."

This means the Ounce River's full Ojibwe name, Dootoogaatigoons-ziibi, describes it as a "River of a Small and Boggy Riverway." It's cool how the name tells us about the river's size and the land around it!