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
Basin
River system	Mississippi River
Main source	Lake Minnetonka 44°57′16″N 93°29′10″W / 44.9544078°N 93.4860652°W
Source elevation	686 feet (209 m)
River mouth	Mississippi River 44°54′32″N 93°12′02″W / 44.9088543°N 93.2004996°WCoordinates: 44°54′32″N 93°12′02″W / 44.9088543°N 93.2004996°W
Size	181 square miles (470 km^2)
Countries	United States of America
Location	Minneapolis, Edina, Hopkins, and Minnetonka, Minnesota
Physiognomy
Length	22 miles (35 km)
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.