Sinsinawa River

Sinsinawa River
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Grant County southeast of Dickeyville, Wisconsin
• coordinates	42°35′54″N 90°31′46″W
• elevation	973 ft (297 m)
Mouth
• location	Confluence with the Mississippi west of Galena, Illinois
• coordinates	42°24′36″N 90°30′20″W
• elevation	591 ft (180 m)
Length	21 mi (34 km)
Discharge
• location	Menominee, Illinois
• average	30 cu/ft. per sec.[1]
Basin features
Progression	Sinsinawa River → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico
GNIS ID	418548

The Sinsinawa River is a 21.1-mile-long (34.0 km)[2] tributary of the Mississippi River.[3] It rises in Grant County, Wisconsin, with headwaters just outside Cuba City, flowing southwards into Jo Daviess County, Illinois, joining the Mississippi a few miles west of Galena.

The river is part of the Driftless Area of Illinois and Wisconsin. This region remained ice free during the last ice age, contributing to the rugged appearance of the river canyon.

The name "Sinsinawa" is associated with Sinsinawa Mound in Grant County, Wisconsin. One version holds that "Sinsinawa" derives from an Algonquian word (possibly Potawatomi, Fox or Menominee language) for "rattlesnake" to describe the Sioux. Another version says "home of the young eagle".

See also

• List of Illinois rivers
• List of Wisconsin rivers

References

1. "USGS Current Conditions for USGS 05414820 SINSINAWA RIVER NEAR MENOMINEE, IL".
2. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 13, 2011
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sinsinawa River

External links

• Prairie Rivers Network
• USGS Real-Time Stream Gage, Sinsinawa River