Red River of the

North

The Red River (French: rivière Rouge or rivière Rouge du Nord) is a river in the north-central United
States and central Canada. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail
rivers between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota, it flows northward through the
Red River Valley, forming most of the border of Minnesota and North Dakota and continuing into
Manitoba. It empties into Lake Winnipeg, whose waters join the Nelson River and ultimately flow
into Hudson Bay.
 Red River of the North
Rivière Rouge / rivière Rouge du Nord

The Red River in Fargo–Moorhead, as viewed from the Fargo side of the river

Mouth

Location

Countries United States

Canada

States Minnesota, North Dakota

Province Manitoba

Cities Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Minnesota, Grand

Forks, North Dakota, East Grand Forks, Minnesota,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Selkirk, Manitoba

Physical characteristics

Source Confluence of Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail Rivers

 • location Wahpeton, North Dakota

 • coordinates 46°15′52″N 96°35′55″W (https://geohack.toolforg

e.org/geohack.php?pagename=Red_River_of_the_
North&params=46_15_52_N_96_35_55_W_)
  • elevation 948 ft (289 m)

Mouth Lake Winnipeg

 • coordinates 50°23′47″N 96°48′39″W (https://geohack.toolforg

e.org/geohack.php?pagename=Red_River_of_the_
North&params=50_23_47_N_96_48_39_W_type:riv
er)

 • elevation 712 ft (217 m)

Length 550 mi (890 km)

Basin size 111,004 sq mi (287,500 km2)[1]

Discharge  

 • location Lockport, Manitoba, 20 miles (32 km) above the

mouth

 • average 8,617 cu ft/s (244.0 m3/s)

 • minimum 491 cu ft/s (13.9 m3/s)

 • maximum 152,900 cu ft/s (4,330 m3/s)

Basin features

River system Nelson River basin

Tributaries  

 • left Bois de Sioux River, Wild Rice River (North

Dakota), Sheyenne River, Elm River, Turtle River,
Pembina River, Assiniboine River

 • right Otter Tail River, Buffalo River, Wild Rice River

(Minnesota), Red Lake River, Roseau River, Seine
River (Manitoba)

The Red River is about 885 kilometres (550 mi) long,[2] of which about 635 kilometres (395 mi)
are in the United States and about 255 kilometres (158 mi) are in Canada.[3] The river falls 70
metres (230 ft) on its trip to Lake Winnipeg, where it spreads into the vast deltaic wetland known
as Netley Marsh. Several urban areas have developed on both sides of the river, including the city
of Winnipeg in Canada, as well as the Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks–East Grand Forks
metropolitan areas, both of which straddle the North Dakota–Minnesota border. Long an
important highway for trade, the Red River has been designated a Canadian Heritage River.
In the United States, the Red River is sometimes called the Red River of the North to distinguish
it from the so-called Red River of the South, a tributary of the Atchafalaya River that forms part
of the border between Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

History

Geography

Geology

Floods

Flow rates and flood potential

See also

Notes

External links

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Red_River_of_the_North&oldid=1119878558"
Last edited 1 month ago by RHodnett