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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. 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. Length 6,270 km Elevation of the source 450 m Average discharge Saint Louis¹: 5,500 m³/s Vicksburg²: 16,800 m³/s Baton Rouge³: 12,800 m³/s Area watershed 2,980,000 km² Origin Lake Itasca Mouth Gulf of Mexico Basin countries United States (98. ... The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ... State nickname: The Hawkeye State Other U.S. States Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Governor Thomas Vilsack Official languages English Area 145,743 km² (26th)  - Land 144,701 km²  - Water 1,042 km² (0. ... State nickname: North Star State Other U.S. States Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Governor Tim Pawlenty Official languages None Area 225,365 km² (12th)  - Land 206,375 km²  - Water 18,990 km² (8. ... Austrias longest glacier, the Pasterze, winds its 8 km (5 mile) route at the foot of Austrias highest mountain, the Grossglockner. ... The State Capitol of Iowa, featuring its golden dome. ...

Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 See also 4 External links

Description

It rises in two forks. The West Fork (the main branch) rises out of Lake Shetek in Murray County in southwestern Minnesota. It flows SSE into Emmet County, Iowa, past Estherville. The East Fork rises out of Okamanpeedan Lake in northern Emmet County on the Iowa-Minnesota border and flows south, through Algona. Murray County is a county located in the state of Minnesota. ... State nickname: North Star State Other U.S. States Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Governor Tim Pawlenty Official languages None Area 225,365 km² (12th)  - Land 206,375 km²  - Water 18,990 km² (8. ... Emmet County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Estherville is a city located in Emmet County, Iowa. ... Okamanpeedan Lake, partially located in Martin County, Minnesota, and Emmet County, Iowa, is also known as Tuttle Lake. ... Algona is a city located in Kossuth County, Iowa. ...

The two forks join in southern Humboldt County, approximately 5 mi (8 km) south of Humboldt at Frank Gotch State Park. The combined stream flows roughly southward through Fort Dodge. South of Boone it passes through the Ledges State Park. It flows through downtown Des Moines, then turns generally southeastward, flowing through Ottumwa, its head of navigation. It forms approximately 20 mi (32 km) of the border between Iowa and Missouri before joining the Mississippi from the northwest at Keokuk. Humboldt County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Humboldt is a city located in Humboldt County, Iowa. ... Frank Gotch in a published photo Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1878 - December 17, 1917) was an American professional wrestler. ... 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, or other reason, and under the administration of the government of a U.S. state or one of the states of Mexico. ... Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, situated on the Des Moines River. ... Boone is a city located in Boone County, Iowa. ... The Ledges State Park is a state park in Iowa in the United States. ... Ottumwa (pronounced Uh-tuhm-wa) is a city located in Wapello County, Iowa. ... Head of navigation is a term used to describe the farthest point above the mouth of a river that can be navigated by ships. ... Missouri, named after the Missouri Siouan Indian tribe meaning canoe, is a Midwestern state of the United States with Jefferson City as its capital. ... Keokuk is a city located in Lee County, Iowa. ...

It receives the Boone River from the northeast approximately 20 mi (32 km) southwest of Fort Dodge. It receives the Raccoon River from the west in Des Moines. Above the city of Des Moines, it is impounded to create the Saylorville Lake reservoir. Above Ottumwa, it is impounded to create the Red Rock Lake reserovir. The Boone River is a tributary of the Des Moines River in the state of Iowa in the United States. ...

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. The name may have referred to early Trappist monks who built huts near the mouth of the river. 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. Trappist can refer to: a religious order - see Trappists some of the products, made by the order - see Trappist beer This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... Alternate meanings of barrow: see Barrow_in_Furness for the town of Barrow in Cumbria, England; also Barrow, Alaska in the U.S.; also River Barrow in Ireland. ...

During the mid-19th century, the river provided the main commercial transportation across Iowa until the building of the railroads in the 1860s. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Events and trends Italian unification under King Victor Emmanuel II. Wars for expansion and national unity continue until the incorporation of the Papal States (March 17, 1861 - September 20, 1870). ...

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. 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

See also

• List of Iowa rivers
• List of Minnesota rivers
• List of Missouri rivers
• Illinois Country
• French colonization of the Americas

This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Iowa Rivers that form part of the boundary of Iowa Mississippi River (Illinois, Wisconsin) Missouri River (Nebraska) Big Sioux River (South Dakota) Des Moines River (see below) Rivers that flow through Iowa Boone River Cedar River Chariton River... This is a list of rivers in the state of Minnesota in the United States Cedar River Cottonwood River Crow River Crow Wing River Des Moines River Long Prairie River Minnesota River Mississippi River Pigeon River Platte River Pomme de Terre River Rainy River Red Lake River Red River Rock... This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Missouri: Black River Blackwater River Blue River Bourbeuse River Castor River Chariton River Cuivre River Current River Des Moines River Eleven Point River Fabius River Fox River Gasconade River Grand River Horse River Lamine River Little River Little... French settlements and forts in the Illinois Country in 1763, showing U.S. current state boundaries. ... North America The French established colonies across the New World in the 17th century. ...

External links

• Des Moines History
• DesMoinesRiver.org
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Des Moines River Basin