Red Lake River facts for kids
The Red Lake River is a river in northwestern Minnesota. It starts on the western side of the Lower Red Lake and flows towards the west. The river passes through towns like Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, and Crookston. Finally, it joins the Red River of the North in East Grand Forks.
The Red Lake River is about 193 miles (310.6 km) long. The name "Forks" in Grand Forks comes from where the Red Lake River and the Red River meet, which is called a confluence.
As a river that flows into the Red River, the Red Lake River added to the big floods in the Grand Forks area in 1997. The river also caused some damage in Crookston, but it was not as bad. Many local people enjoy the Red Lake River for fun activities. It's a great place for tubing and canoeing.
River Journey and Scenery
The Red Lake River flows through many different kinds of land. After leaving the Red Lake, it goes through a marsh. A marsh is a wet, grassy area, and this one is in the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
Next, the river flows through a prairie, which is a large area of open grassland. After that, it moves through farmland. Near St. Hilaire, the riverbanks become much steeper. These are large cliffs that are slowly wearing away, called eroding cliffs. Some parts of the riverbanks are also covered with thick forests.
For most of its journey, the river is quite calm and smooth. There is one part between St. Hilaire and Crookston where you'll find some rapids. Rapids are sections where the water flows very fast over rocks, but these ones are easy to paddle through. The Red Lake River is one of the special canoe routes in Minnesota. Along the way, you can find places to rest and even camp overnight.
Dams on the River
A dam is a strong barrier built across a river to hold back water. The Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) lists three dams on the Red Lake River. Keep in mind there might be other structures, but these are the main ones mentioned:
- One dam is located at river mile 181.
- Another dam is in the City of Red Lake Falls. This dam is owned by a company called Otter Tail Power Company.
- There is also a dam in the City of Crookston. This dam is also owned by Otter Tail Power Company.
