Minnehaha Creek
Minnehaha Creek as it flows over Minnehaha Falls, shown in all four seasons.
Etymologywaterfall or rapid water, for its journey over Minnehaha Falls
Native name
  • Mniȟáȟa Wakpádaŋ (Dakota)
  • Wakpa Cistinna[1]
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
RegionMinneapolis, Edina, Hopkins, and Minnetonka
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationLake Minnetonka
 • coordinates44°57′16″N 93°29′10″W / 44.9544078°N 93.4860652°W / 44.9544078; -93.4860652
 • elevation686 feet (209 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Mississippi River
 • coordinates
44°54′32″N 93°12′02″W / 44.9088543°N 93.2004996°W / 44.9088543; -93.2004996
Length22 miles (35 km)
Basin size181 square miles (470 km2)
Basin features
River systemMississippi River at Minneapolis
Tributaries 
 • rightbrief stream originating at Lake Pamela
GNIS647923[1]

Minnehaha Creek (Dakota: Mniȟáȟa Wakpádaŋ) 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. 1 2 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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