Snake River (Red River of the North tributary) facts for kids

The Snake River is a river in northwestern Minnesota, United States. It flows into the Red River of the North. A river that flows into a larger river is called a tributary. There are actually three rivers named Snake River in Minnesota! This article is about the one in the northwestern part of the state.

The name "Snake River" comes from the Ojibwe language. It's an English translation of the original Ojibwe name for the river.

River's Journey

The Snake River is about 91 miles (146 kilometers) long. It collects water from a large area of about 1,324 square miles (3,430 square kilometers). This area includes the river itself and all its smaller streams, called tributaries.

Where the River Flows

The Snake River flows entirely over an old lake bed. This area was once covered by a huge ancient lake called Lake Agassiz. This giant glacial lake existed thousands of years ago.

Most of the river's journey is through western Marshall County. A small part of it also goes through northwestern Polk County.

River's Path and Towns

The Snake River starts by flowing southwest. Then, it turns west. Along its way, it picks up water from a smaller stream called the South Branch Snake River.

The river also passes by the towns of Warren and Alvarado. After Alvarado, the Snake River turns north-northwest. It flows alongside the Red River in the Red River Valley.

Changes to the River

Over time, people have changed much of the river's path. Many parts of the river in the valley have been made straighter. This process is called channelization. It helps control water flow and prevent flooding.

Finally, the Snake River meets another river called the Middle River. This happens before the Snake River joins the Red River of the North in Fork Township.