Mustinka River

The Mustinka River is a tributary of Lake Traverse, 68 mi (109 km) long,^[1] in western Minnesota in the United States. Via Lake Traverse, the Bois de Sioux River, the Red River of the North, Lake Winnipeg, and the Nelson River, it is part of the watershed of Hudson Bay. The river drains an area of 909 square miles (2,350 km²).^[2][3]

Mustinka River
A straightened and re-routed section of the Mustinka River in Redpath Township of Traverse County
Mouth of the Mustinka River
Location
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Counties	Traverse, Grant, and Otter Tail
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	46.2124597°N 96.1045034°W / 46.2124597; -96.1045034
Mouth
• location	Lake Traverse
• coordinates	45.7650°N 96.6176°W / 45.7650; -96.6176
Length	68 mi (109 km)
Basin size	909 square miles (2,350 km2)
Basin features
River system	Hudson Bay

Mustinka is a name derived from the Dakota language meaning "rabbit".^[4]

Course

The Mustinka River rises about 5 miles (8 km) south-southwest of Fergus Falls in southwestern Otter Tail County and initially flows generally southward into Grant County, passing through Stony Brook Lake and Lightning Lake. The river turns westwardly in southern Grant County and flows past Norcross into Traverse County, where it turns southwestward past Wheaton. It flows into the northern end of Lake Traverse from the east, about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Wheaton.^[5] Twelvemile Creek is a tributary of the Mustinka River.^[6][7]

Much of the river's lower course has been straightened and channelized.^[8]

See also

• List of rivers of Minnesota
• List of longest streams of Minnesota