Rock River (Big Sioux River)

Rock River
River
Country United States
States Iowa, Minnesota
Districts Sioux County, Iowa, Lyon County, Iowa, Rock County, Minnesota, Pipestone County, Minnesota
Source
 - coordinates 44°08′13″N 96°07′23″W / 44.1369°N 96.1231°W / 44.1369; -96.1231
Mouth Big Sioux River
 - elevation 1,171 ft (357 m)
 - coordinates 43°04′58″N 96°27′16″W / 43.0827°N 96.4545°W / 43.0827; -96.4545Coordinates: 43°04′58″N 96°27′16″W / 43.0827°N 96.4545°W / 43.0827; -96.4545
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rock River (Big Sioux River)

The Rock River is a tributary of the Big Sioux River, about 144 miles (232 km) long,[1] in southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa in the United States. Via the Big Sioux and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.

Course

The Rock River starts in Pipestone County, Minnesota, approximately 13 miles (21 km) northeast of the town of Pipestone, and flows initially southwardly through Rock County, Minnesota, and Lyon County, Iowa, where it turns southwestward into Sioux County, Iowa. It flows into the Big Sioux River in Sioux County, 6 miles (10 km) north of Hawarden.

Along its course the Rock River passes the towns of Holland, Edgerton, Luverne and Ash Creek in Minnesota; and the towns of Rock Rapids, Doon and Rock Valley in Iowa.

Tributaries

In its upper course in Minnesota, the river collects the East Branch Rock River, about 15 miles (24 km) long, which flows for its entire length in Pipestone County. In Iowa, it collects the Little Rock River just south of Doon.

See also

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 30, 2011
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