Pere Marquette River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pere Marquette River |
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Tourists canoeing on the Pere Marquette River in the Manistee National Forest.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Lake, Mason, Newaygo, Oceana |
| Cities | Ludington, Scottville |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake County, Michigan, United States 43°51′22″N 85°50′30″W / 43.85611°N 85.84167°W |
| River mouth | Lake Michigan Ludington, Michigan, United States 43°57′06″N 86°27′37″W / 43.95167°N 86.46028°W |
| Length | 64 mi (103 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 740 sq mi (1,900 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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| Type: | Scenic |
| Designated: | November 10, 1978 |
The Pere Marquette River is a beautiful river in Michigan, United States. It flows for about 64 miles (103 km) (103 km). The river starts in Lake County and ends up in Lake Michigan. First, it flows into Pere Marquette Lake, then into the larger lake.
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About the Pere Marquette River
Why the River is Named Pere Marquette
This river gets its name from a French Catholic missionary named Jacques Marquette. He was an explorer who traveled around the Great Lakes and Mississippi River areas in the mid-1600s. Sadly, he passed away near this river in the spring of 1675. He was on his way back from Chicago to a French fort in Mackinaw.
A Special River: Wild and Scenic
A large part of the Pere Marquette River is very special. About 66 miles (106 km) (106 km) of the river was named a National Scenic River in 1978. This means it is protected for its natural beauty and value. This special section starts near Baldwin and goes all the way to U.S. Highway 31 in Scottville.
Fishing Fun
The Pere Marquette River is known as a "Blue Ribbon fishery". This means it's one of the best places to go fishing! Many people enjoy catching fish here.
Animals of the River
The Pere Marquette River is home to many different animals. It has a rich history of fish, and you can find many other creatures living in and around its waters.
Fishy Friends: From Grayling to Trout
Originally, a fish called the Grayling lived in this river. But after a big fire in Chicago caused a lot of trees to be cut down, the Grayling disappeared. In 1876, people started adding rainbow trout to the river. Then, in 1884, the Baldwin River, which flows into the Pere Marquette, became the first river in America to get European brown trout. These fish came all the way from Germany!
Other River Animals
Many other animals live in or near the Pere Marquette River. Here are some of them:
- Chinook salmon
- Coho salmon
- Steelhead
- Brook trout
- Western chorus frog
- Bullfrog
- Crayfish
- Northern leopard frog
- Mudpuppy (a type of salamander)
- Eastern tiger salamander and other kinds of salamanders
- Northern water snake
- Copper-bellied water snake
- Common snapping turtle
- Red-eared slider (a turtle)
- Five-lined skink (a lizard)
- Muskrat
- Mink
- Beaver
- Weasel
- Wood Duck
- North American River Otter
Invasive Species
Sometimes, new animals or plants arrive that don't belong. One of these is the New Zealand mud snail. It is an invasive species, which means it can cause problems for the native animals and plants in the river.
