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Swan River (central Minnesota) facts for kids

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Swan River (central Minnesota)
Country United States
Physical characteristics
Main source Big Swan Lake
River mouth Mississippi River
1,082 ft (330 m)
Length 37 mi (60 km)

The Swan River is a cool river in Minnesota, a state in the United States. It's about 37 miles (60 kilometers) long.

This river is a tributary, which means it's like a smaller helper river that flows into a much bigger one. The Swan River flows into the famous Mississippi River.

Where Does the Swan River Flow?

The Swan River starts near a place called Big Swan Lake. From there, it flows through two counties in Minnesota: Todd County and Morrison County.

Towns Along the River

As the Swan River makes its journey, it passes by a couple of towns. These towns include Swanville and Sobieski.

Joining the Mississippi River

After flowing for many miles, the Swan River finally meets the mighty Mississippi River. This happens about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) south of the city of Little Falls.

How Did the Swan River Get Its Name?

The name "Swan River" comes from the Ojibwe language. The Ojibwe people are a Native American group. They named the river after two types of beautiful swans they saw in the area.

Types of Swans

The two kinds of swans that inspired the river's name are the trumpeter swan and the whistling swan. These large, graceful birds were common sights along the river.

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