St. Francis River (Minnesota)
| St. Francis River | |
|---|---|
The St. Francis River in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in 2007 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Alberta Township, Benton County |
| • coordinates | 45°48′29″N 93°53′31″W / 45.80806°N 93.89194°W |
| • elevation | 1,247 ft (380 m) |
| Mouth | Elk River |
• location | Big Lake Township, Sherburne County |
• coordinates | 45°21′33″N 93°44′14″W / 45.35917°N 93.73722°W |
• elevation | 912 ft (278 m) |
| Length | 79 mi (127 km) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Big Lake, MN |
| • average | 108 cu/ft. per sec. |
The Saint Francis River is a 79.0-mile-long (127.1 km) tributary of the Elk River in east-central Minnesota in the United States. Via the Elk River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area historically characterized by mixed hardwood and coniferous forests on flat to rolling till plains.
The St. Francis River rises in Alberta Township in northeastern Benton County, and flows generally southwardly through eastern Benton County, passing to the east of Foley and collecting a minor tributary known as the West Branch St. Francis River. The river turns eastward in northern Sherburne County, and flows south- and southwestwardly through the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and Sand Dunes State Forest. It joins the Elk River in Big Lake Township in southern Sherburne County, approximately one mile (2 km) north of the city of Big Lake. Canoeing is possible on some stretches of the river during periods of high water.