The Lester River, is a
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
, accessed May 7, 2012 tributary
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...
of
Lake Superior
Lake Superior in central North America is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. and the third-largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh wa ...
, in northeastern
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It drains an area of .
Course
The Lester River flows for its entire length in southern
Saint Louis County. It rises in
Gnesen Township and flows generally southeastwardly through the city of
Rice Lake and
Lakewood Township, turning southward as it nears Lake Superior. It flows into the lake in eastern
Duluth.
Lester River is known as ''Basaabikaa-ziibi'' in
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains.
According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
, meaning "Rocky Canyon River", though
Joseph Gilfillan
Joseph Alexander Gilfillan (1838 – November 18, 1913) was an Episcopal missionary to Native Americans of the Ojibwa Tribe on White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota during 35 years from 1873 until 1908.
Biography
Joseph Alexander Gi ...
translated its name as "River that comes through a worn hollow place in the rock," as the river passes through a canyon between Lester Park, where Amity Creek joins the Lester River, and the mouth of the river.
History
Lester River bears the name of an early settler.
Historical structures
Along the Lester River are two properties listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
. They are:
*
Lester River Bridge (Bridge No. 5772)
*
US Fisheries Station, Duluth. Built in 1882, the complex is located at the mouth of the Lester River. It is owned by the
University of Minnesota Duluth
The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a public university in Duluth, Minnesota. It is part of the University of Minnesota system and offers 16 bachelor's degrees in 88 majors, graduate programs in 25 different fields, and a two-year progr ...
and temporarily housed the
Great Lakes Aquarium administrative offices at the beginning of the aquarium's operations. The complex consists of the Hatchery/Bunk-room Building, Boat House, Pump House, Supervisor's Cabin on the south side of Congdon Boulevard, and a Superintendent's House on the north side of Congdon Boulevard. Between 2011 and 2013, it was given an extensive renovation.
Gallery
7BridgesDuluthMN.jpg, A stream flowing into the Lester River in Duluth
Lester River bridge.jpg, Lester River Bridge near Lake Superior
File:U.S. Fisheries Station, Duluth, 2012 (2).jpg, U.S. Fisheries station during renovation in 2012
File:U.S. Fisheries Station, Duluth, 2014 (2).jpg, U.S. Fisheries station after renovation
See also
*
List of rivers of Minnesota
References
*
Upham, Warren (2001). ''Minnesota place names: a geographical encyclopedia.'' St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press. .
*Waters, Thomas F. (1977). ''The Streams and Rivers of Minnesota''. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. .
{{authority control
Geography of Duluth, Minnesota
Rivers of Minnesota
Rivers of St. Louis County, Minnesota
Tributaries of Lake Superior
Northern Minnesota trout streams