![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Blue_Earth_River_Rapidan.jpg/640px-Blue_Earth_River_Rapidan.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Blue Earth River
river in the United States of America / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Blue Earth River is a tributary of the Minnesota River. It is 108 miles (174 km) long and can be found in the southern part of Minnesota and the northern part of Iowa in the United States. It has two headwaters: the Middle Branch Blue Earth River and the West Branch Blue Earth River. The Blue Earth River is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. The river was named for old deposits of bluish-green clay that could be seen along the banks of the river. However, you are no longer able to see these deposits. It was called Makato Osa Watapa by the Dakota Indians. This had the meaning "the river where blue earth is gathered." [9]
Quick Facts Location, Country ...
Blue Earth River | |
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![]() The Blue Earth River as viewed from Rapidan Dam in Blue Earth County in 2007 | |
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Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Iowa, Minnesota |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Middle Branch Blue Earth River |
- location | near Rake, Winnebago County, Iowa |
- coordinates | 43°27′30″N 93°48′04″W[1] |
- elevation | 1,207 ft (368 m)[2] |
2nd source | West Branch Blue Earth River |
- location | near Swea City, Kossuth County, Iowa |
- coordinates | 43°24′13″N 94°17′38″W[3] |
- elevation | 1,152 ft (351 m)[2] |
Source confluence | |
- location | Elmore Township, Faribault County, Minnesota |
- coordinates | 43°34′20″N 94°06′11″W[4] |
- elevation | 1,076 ft (328 m)[2] |
Mouth | Minnesota River |
- location | Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota |
- coordinates | 44°09′51″N 94°02′13″W[4] |
- elevation | 765 ft (233 m)[2] |
Length | 108 mi (174 km)[5] |
Basin size | 3,486 sq mi (9,030 km2)[6] |
Discharge | |
- location | Rapidan Township, Minnesota[7] |
- average | 1,076 cu ft/s (30.5 m3/s)[8] |
- minimum | 6.9 cu ft/s (0.20 m3/s) |
- maximum | 43,100 cu ft/s (1,220 m3/s) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
- left | Watonwan River |
- right | East Branch Blue Earth River, Le Sueur River |
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