The Root River flows for 80 miles (130 km)[1] through the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota and is a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River. The Root River is formed by three branches, the North, South and Middle branches of the Root River and the South Fork Root River. It is an excellent river for canoeing and fishing. The gentle to moderate flowing river drops an average of 3.4 ft/mile from Chatfield, Minnesota, to its pour point in the Mississippi River into Navigation Pool 7 just south of La Crosse, Wisconsin and east of Hokah, Minnesota.

Root River
The North Branch of the Root River in Olmsted County Park
The Root River in Minnesota
Native name	Hokah  (Dakota)
Location
Country	United States
States	Minnesota
Counties	Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona
Cities	Chatfield, Forestville, Hokah, Houston, Lanesboro, Minnesota, Rushford, Peterson, Preston, Stewartville, Whalan
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	43.8066305°N 92.1704397°W / 43.8066305; -92.1704397 (Root River Source)
Mouth	Mississippi River
• coordinates	43.7619120°N 91.2518017°W / 43.7619120; -91.2518017 (Root River Mouth)
Length	80 miles (130 km)
Discharge
• location	43.7619°N 91.2518°W / 43.7619; -91.2518
Basin features
River system	Mississippi River
Tributaries
• left	Kinney Creek, Lynch Creek, Mill Creek, Money Creek, North Branch Root River, Raaen Creek, Rush Creek, Torkelson Creek, Trout Run
• right	Diamond Creek (Root River tributary), Ferndale Creek, Gribben Creek, Middle Fork Root River, Partridge Creek, South Branch Root River, Rice Creek, South Fork Root River
Bridges	Moen's Bridge

History and description

Root River is an English translation of the Dakota-language name Hokah.[2]

The Root River is formed by the merger of its North Branch Root River and Middle Fork Root River in Chatfield, Minnesota. A mile and a half north of Lanesboro, Minnesota it is joined by the South Branch Root River.[2][3][4][5] The South Fork Root River joins the Root River near Houston, Minnesota.[6][7]

The South Branch Root River rises in Mower County as agricultural drainage ditches, which disappear underground, re-emerging as a much cooler stream[8] at Mystery Cave near Preston, Minnesota. The 48°F water creates superb conditions for brook trout.[4][7]

The Root River and its tributaries lie within Minnesota's Driftless Area, a region which missed being glaciated during the last ice age, i.e., the Wisconsinian glaciation.[7]

At Houston, the Root River's discharge was 845.2 cubic feet per second in 1961.[9][10]

Fish and wildlife

Many fish species such as brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass, channel catfish, crappies, shorthead redhorse, river redhorse, golden redhorse, silver redhorse, Longnose Sturgeon, greater redhorse, black redhorse, northern hogsuckers, and white suckers inhabit the river. The Root River system provides habitat to a number of bird species. Red-tailed hawks and bald eagles can be found in the area. Blue herons, wild turkeys, and wood ducks are also commonly seen. Numerous mammals can be spotted in the region including deer, gray fox, red fox, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, and badgers.

Trail

The Root River State Trail is a 42-mile-long (68 km) trail for bicycling, hiking, skating, skiing, etc. It begins in Fountain and continues through Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and Houston.

2007 flood

As a result of the 2007 Midwest flooding, the river rose to 19 feet (5.8 m), about a foot short of the height of the dike protecting the town of Houston.[11]

Maps

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Root River (Minnesota).

• List of Minnesota rivers
• List of longest streams of Minnesota

References

External links

• Minnesota DNR canoeing guide for the Root River
• Minnesota DNR trail guide for the Root River State Trail.

На других языках

[de] Root River (Mississippi River)