St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)

St. Croix River
St. Croix River at the St. Croix Crossing
Map of the St. Croix watershed.
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWisconsin, Minnesota
CitiesSt. Croix Falls, WI, Taylors Falls, MN, Osceola, WI, Stillwater, MN, Hudson, WI, Afton, MN, Prescott, WI, Lindström, MN, Somerset, WI, Scandia, MN River Falls, WI
Physical characteristics
SourceUpper St. Croix Lake
 • locationnear Solon Springs, Wisconsin, Douglas County, WI
 • coordinates46°23′19″N 91°45′34″W / 46.38861°N 91.75944°W / 46.38861; -91.75944
MouthMississippi River
 • location
Prescott, WI, Pierce County, Washington, Dakota, MN, WI
 • coordinates
44°44′45″N 92°48′10″W / 44.74583°N 92.80278°W / 44.74583; -92.80278
Length169 mi (272 km)
Basin size7,700 sq mi (20,000 km2)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationPrescott, WI
 • average6,374 cu ft/s (180.5 m3/s).[1]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftSunrise River, Snake River, Kettle River, Trout Brook
 • rightApple River, Yellow River, Namekagon River, Eau Claire River (St. Croix River), Kinnickinnic River
National Wild and Scenic River
TypeScenic, Recreational
DesignatedOctober 2, 1968
Part ofSaint Croix National Scenic Riverway

The St. Croix River (/ˈsnt ˈkrɔɪ/ saynt KROY; French for 'Holy Cross')[3] is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about 169 mi (272 km) long,[4] in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower 125 mi (201 km) of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A hydroelectric plant at the Saint Croix Falls Dam supplies power to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.

  1. ^ "St. Croix River". USGS. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Minnesota Forests Resources Council (2013). "St. Croix River Basin" (PDF). St. Croix River Association. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map. Retrieved October 5, 2012