Minnehaha Creek
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Minnehaha Creek
| image = Minnehaha four seasons.JPG
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Minnehaha Creek as it flows over Minnehaha Falls, shown in all four seasons.
| map =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| native_name = {{plainlist |
}}
| native_name_lang =
| name_other =
| source1_location = Lake Minnetonka
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|44.9544078|N|93.4860652|W}}
| mouth_location = Mississippi River
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|44.9088543|N|93.2004996|W|display=inline,title}}
| progression =
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Minnesota
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = Minneapolis, Edina, Hopkins, and Minnetonka
| name_etymology = waterfall or rapid water, for its journey over Minnehaha Falls
| length = {{convert|22|mi|km}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|686|ft|m}}
| mouth_elevation =
| discharge1_avg =
| basin_size = {{convert|181|sqmi|km2}}
| river_system = Mississippi River at Minneapolis
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right = brief stream originating at Lake Pamela
| custom_label = GNIS
| custom_data = 647923{{GNIS|id= 647923}}
}}
Minnehaha Creek ({{langx|dak|Mniȟáȟa Wakpádaŋ}}) is a {{convert|22|mi|km|adj=mid|-long|abbr=off|sp=us}} tributary of the Mississippi River that flows east from Gray's Bay Dam on Lake Minnetonka{{cite web | url=http://www.minnehahacreek.org/data-center | title=Data Center | website=Minnehaha Creek Watershed District}} 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
{{further|topic=the etymology of the word minnehaha|Minnehaha}}
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.{{cite web | url=http://slphistory.org/minnehahacreek/ | title=Minnehaha Creek | website=St. Louis Park Historical Society }}
Watershed
The creek's watershed covers {{convert|181|mi2|km2}}, including the basin of Lake Minnetonka, and is managed by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.{{cite web | url=http://www.minnehahacreek.org/about | title=About | website=Minnehaha Creek Watershed District}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Rivers of Hennepin County, Minnesota
Category:Tributaries of the Mississippi River
Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin
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