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The Des Moines River upstream of Ottumwa, Iowa
The Des Moines River upstream of Ottumwa, Iowa

The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately 525 mi (845 km) long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwest of the United States. Ottumwa (pronounced əˈtʌmwə "Uh-tuhm-wa" is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The largest river flowing across the state of Iowa, it rises in southern Minnesota, and flows across the state of Iowa from northwest to southeast, passing from the glaciated plains into the unglaciated hills near the city of Des Moines, which takes its name from the river. The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. It forms a short portion of Iowa's border with Missouri in Lee County. The Avenue of the Saints passes over this section.

Contents

Description

The Des Moines River watershed
The Des Moines River watershed

It rises in two forks. The West Fork (the main branch) rises out of Lake Shetek in Murray County in southwestern Minnesota. Lake Shetek is the largest Lake in Murray County Minnesota, located a few miles north-northwest of Currie. Murray County is a County located in the state of Minnesota Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers It flows SSE into Emmet County, Iowa, past Estherville. Emmet County is a County located in the US state of Iowa. As of 2000 the population was 11027 Estherville is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6656 at the 2000 census The East Fork rises out of Okamanpeedan Lake in northern Emmet County on the Iowa-Minnesota border and flows south, through Algona. Okamanpeedan Lake, partially located in Martin County Minnesota, and Emmet County Iowa, is also known as Tuttle Lake. Algona is a city in and the County seat of Kossuth County, Iowa, United States.

The two forks join in southern Humboldt County, approximately 5 mi (8 km) south of Humboldt at Frank Gotch State Park. Humboldt County is a County located in the US state of Iowa. It was created in 1857 and is named in honor of Alexander von Humboldt. Humboldt is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4452 at the 2000 census Frank Alvin Gotch ( April 27, 1877 - December 17, 1917) was an American Professional wrestler credited for popularizing State Park is a term used in the United States and in Mexico for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty historic interest recreation or other The combined stream flows roughly southward through Fort Dodge. Fort Dodge is a City and County seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, situated on the Des Moines River. South of Boone it passes through the Ledges State Park. Boone is a city in Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. The Ledges State Park is a State park in Iowa in the United States. It flows through downtown Des Moines, then turns generally southeastward, flowing through Ottumwa. Ottumwa (pronounced əˈtʌmwə "Uh-tuhm-wa" is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. It forms approximately 20 mi (32 km) of the border between Iowa and Missouri before joining the Mississippi from the northwest at Keokuk. Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee Keokuk (ˈkiəˌkʌk is a city in the southeastern part of the U

It receives the Boone River from the northeast approximately 20 mi (32 km) southwest of Fort Dodge. The It receives the Raccoon River from the west in Des Moines. See also Raccoon Creek The Raccoon River is a Tributary of the Des Moines River in central Above the city of Des Moines, it is impounded to create the Saylorville Lake reservoir. Saylorville Lake is a man-made reservoir on the Des Moines River in Iowa. About midway below Saylorville and above Ottumwa, near Pella, it is impounded to create the Lake Red Rock reservoir.

History

The origin of the name of the river is obscure. It was given the name La Rivière des Moines, literally meaning "River of the Monks", by early French explorers. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The name may have referred to early Trappist monks who built huts near the mouth of the river. Trappist redirects here This article is about the Cistercian order It may also refer to moingona, a Native American word meaning "river of the mounds" in reference to the burial mounds that were located near the banks of the river. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves

During the mid-19th century, the river provided the main commercial transportation across Iowa until the building of the railroads in the 1860s. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the USA was completed in 1869

Historic floods on the river and its tributary the Raccoon in the summer of 1993 forced the evacuation of much of the city of Des Moines and nearby communities. The Great Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries from April to October Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar)

Cities and towns along the river

Variant names

According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Des Moines River has also been known as:

See also


External links

Algona is a city in and the County seat of Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. Armstrong is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 979 at the 2000 census Bonaparte is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. Chillicothe is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. Currie is a city in Murray County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 225 at the 2000 census. Dakota City is a city in and the County seat of Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. Douds is a Census-designated place (CDP in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. Eddyville is a city in Mahaska, Monroe, and Wapello Counties in the U Eldon is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 998 at the 2000 census Estherville is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6656 at the 2000 census Farmington is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. Fort Dodge is a City and County seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, situated on the Des Moines River. Fraser is a city in Dodge Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. Graettinger is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States. Humboldt is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4452 at the 2000 census Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. Johnston is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8649 at the 2000 census the United States Census Bureau estimated Keosauqua (pronounced Key'-Oh-Saw'-Kwa is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. Lehigh is a city in Webster County, Iowa, United States. The population was 497 at the 2000 census Leando is a Census-designated place (CDP in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. Ottumwa (pronounced əˈtʌmwə "Uh-tuhm-wa" is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. Rutland is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 145 at the 2000 census Windom is a city in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, United States. The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout List of Rivers in Iowa ( US state) Rivers that form part of the boundary of Iowa Mississippi River ( Illinois List of Rivers in Minnesota ( US state) Alphabetically A-C Ahmik River Ann River List of Rivers in Missouri ( US state) By Drainage Basin This list is arranged by drainage basin with respective tributaries The Illinois Country ( Pays des Illinois) was the name used in the 17th century and afterwards to refer to an undefined region centered around present day southwest French colonization of the Americas began in the 14th century and continued in the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western
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