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The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately 525 mi (845 km) long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwest of the United States. The largest river flowing across the state of Iowa, it rises in southern Minnesota, and flows across the state of Iowa from northwest to southeast, passing from the glaciated plains into the unglaciated hills near the city of Des Moines, which takes its name from the river. It forms a short portion of Iowa's border with Missouri in Lee County. The Avenue of the Saints passes over this section.
Description
History The origin of the name of the river is obscure. It was given the name La Rivière des Moines, literally meaning "River of the Monks", by early French explorers. The name may have referred to early Trappist monks who built huts near the mouth of the river. It may also refer to moingona, a Native American word meaning "river of the mounds" in reference to the burial mounds that were located near the banks of the river. During the mid-19th century, the river provided the main commercial transportation across Iowa until the building of the railroads in the 1860s. Historic floods on the river and its tributary the Raccoon in the summer of 1993 forced the evacuation of much of the city of Des Moines and nearby communities. Cities and towns along the river Variant names According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Des Moines River has also been known as: See also | ||||||||||
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