Turtle River (North Dakota) facts for kids
The Turtle River is a river in northeastern North Dakota, United States. It is about 74.9 miles (120.5 km) long. A river that flows into a larger river is called a tributary. The Turtle River is a tributary of the Red River of the North. It flows mostly through Grand Forks County.
The water from the Turtle River eventually reaches Hudson Bay. This happens because the Turtle River flows into the Red River. The Red River then flows into Lake Winnipeg, and Lake Winnipeg connects to the Nelson River. The Nelson River finally empties into Hudson Bay. This whole area of connected rivers and lakes is called a watershed.
Where Does the Turtle River Flow?
The Turtle River actually starts as two smaller streams. These are called the North Branch and the South Branch. The North Branch begins in eastern Nelson County. Sometimes, this part of the stream dries up, so it's called an "intermittent stream."
The two branches meet near the town of Larimore. From there, the river flows mostly towards the east. It has many twists and turns, which is called a "meandering" course.
The river flows through Turtle River State Park. It also goes past the Grand Forks Air Force Base. As it gets closer to the Red River, it turns and flows north. It passes through the town of Manvel. Finally, the Turtle River joins the Red River just before the town of Oslo, Minnesota.
