Minnehaha Creek

Minnehaha Creek
Minnehaha Creek as it flows over Minnehaha Falls, shown in all four seasons.
Native name Wakpa Cistinna
Etymology waterfall or rapid water, referring to this creek's journey over Minnehaha Falls
Country United States
State Minnesota
Region Minneapolis, Edina, Hopkins, and Minnetonka
Physical characteristics
Main source Lake Minnetonka
686 feet (209 m)
44°57′16″N 93°29′10″W / 44.9544078°N 93.4860652°W / 44.9544078; -93.4860652
River mouth Mississippi River
44°54′32″N 93°12′02″W / 44.9088543°N 93.2004996°W / 44.9088543; -93.2004996Coordinates: 44°54′32″N 93°12′02″W / 44.9088543°N 93.2004996°W / 44.9088543; -93.2004996
Length 22 miles (35 km)
Basin features
River system Mississippi River at Minneapolis
Basin size 181 square miles (470 km2)
Tributaries
  • Right:
    brief stream originating at Lake Pamela
GNIS 647923[1]

Minnehaha Creek is a 22-mile-long (35 km) tributary of the Mississippi River that flows east from Gray's Bay Dam on Lake Minnetonka[2] through the suburban cities of Minnetonka, Hopkins, Saint Louis Park, and Edina, and the city of Minneapolis. The creek flows over Minnehaha Falls in Minnehaha Park near its mouth at the Mississippi River.

History

As with much of the Midwest, the area around the creek and Lake Minnetonka was originally inhabited by a native culture affiliated with the Mound Builders, but by the 1700s was occupied by the Mdewakanton People, a sub-tribe of the Dakota. The first Euro-Americans whose expedition to the area was documented were Joe Brown and Will Snelling, who canoed up the creek from Fort Snelling.[3]

Watershed

The creek's watershed covers 181 square miles (470 km2), including the basin of Lake Minnetonka, and is managed by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.[4]

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Minnehaha Creek
  2. ↑ "Data Center". Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.
  3. ↑ "Minnehaha Creek". St. Louis Park Historical Society.
  4. ↑ "About". Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.


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