Embarrass River (Minnesota)

The Embarrass River is a 50.5-mile-long (81.3 km)[1] tributary of the Saint Louis River in northern Minnesota, United States. It rises just west of the city of Babbitt and flows southwest, turning briefly south to thread a gap between the Embarrass Mountains to the east and the Mesabi Range to the west. The river flows into the Saint Louis River southeast of Eveleth. During the fur-trading days and the era of exploration, the river was part of a historic trade route from Lower Canada via Lake Superior, across the Height of Land, and down the Rainy River to Lake Winnipeg to the pays d'en haut—the fur-bearing regions of the Canadian northwest.[2][3][4]

Embarrass River
Embarrass River in Winter
Embarrass River (Minnesota) is located in Minnesota
Embarrass River (Minnesota)
Mouth of the Embarrass River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountySt. Louis County
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBabbitt
 • coordinates47°41′46″N 91°59′50″W / 47.6960296°N 91.9971046°W / 47.6960296; -91.9971046
Mouth 
 • location
Gilbert
 • coordinates
47°23′32″N 92°24′52″W / 47.3921512°N 92.4143509°W / 47.3921512; -92.4143509
Length50.5-mile-long (81.3 km)
Basin features
River systemSaint Louis River

The river was so named on account of the many obstacles in the rivers to canoeists.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 7, 2012
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Embarrass River
  3. ^ Morse, Eric (1979). Fur Trade Routes of Canada. Minoqua, WI: NorthWord Press. pp. 71–75. ISBN 1-55971-045-4.
  4. ^ Vogel, Robert C.; David G. Stanley (1992). "Portage Trails in Minnesota, 1630s-1870s" (pdf). Multiple Property Documentation Form. US Dept. of the Interior, Nat'l Park Service. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  5. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 482.