Platte River (Minnesota) facts for kids
The Platte River is a cool river in central Minnesota, United States. It's like a long, winding path of water that eventually joins the mighty Mississippi River! This river is about 88.6 kilometers (or 55 miles) long. The name "Platte" actually comes from a French word meaning "flat" – maybe because the land around it is pretty flat!
Discovering the Platte River
Where the River Begins and Ends
The Platte River starts its journey from Platte Lake. This lake is located in the southeastern part of Crow Wing County. From there, the river flows mostly towards the southwest.
As it travels, the Platte River winds its way through the eastern part of Morrison County. It even passes by the small towns of Harding and Royalton, Minnesota, Royalton. Finally, the river flows into the huge Mississippi River. This meeting point is in Benton County, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of Royalton.
Friends of the Platte: Its Tributaries
Rivers often have smaller streams or rivers that flow into them. These are called "tributaries." The biggest tributary that joins the Platte River is the Skunk River. The Skunk River meets the Platte River while it's still flowing through Morrison County.
