The Wisconsin River is the largest river in Wisconsin and the namesake of the state (ie, the state was named after the river). The Wisconsin River stretches 430 miles from Lac Vieux Desert on the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary in the north to Prairie du Chien in southwestern Wisconsin, where it empties into the Mississippi River.
| Wisconsin River Facts | |||
| Length: | 430 miles | Annual Precipitation: | 31 inches |
| Drainage Area: | 12,000 square miles 1/4 of total state area |
Runoff: (precipitation that feeds river flow) |
11.3 inches |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,050 feet | Evapotranspiration: (water lost to evaporation and plants) |
19.7 inches |
| Reservoirs to control river flow: | 21 | Average Flow at Mouth: | 12,000 cubic feet/second |
| Hydroplants to produce electricity: | 25 | Counties Bordering River: | 15 |
| Major Communities Located on the River: |
Eagle River, Rhinelander, Tomahawk, Merrill, Wausau, Mosinee, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Dells, Portage, Prairie du Sac, Prairie du Chien |
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Read a report on the Wisconsin River written by 7th-grader Mark Morgan who was nice enough to send us a copy.