Apple River (Illinois)

The Apple River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about 55 miles (89 km) long,[2] in southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois in the United States. It rises in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, and flows for most of its length in Illinois, through Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties. Along its course it passes through Apple River Canyon State Park and the town of Hanover. It flows into the Mississippi River about 7 mi (11 km) northwest of Savanna.

For the nearby village of the same name, see Apple River, Illinois.
Apple River
The confluence of the South Fork Apple River and the Apple River within Apple River Canyon State Park
Location
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois, Wisconsin
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationEast of Shullsburg, Lafayette County, Wisconsin
 • coordinates42°33′51″N 90°09′47″W
MouthMississippi River
 • location
Northwest of Savanna, Carroll County, Illinois
 • coordinates
42°10′35″N 90°14′36″W
Length55 mi (89 km)
Discharge 
 • locationHanover, Illinois
 • average199 cu/ft. per sec.[1]

In Jo Daviess County, it collects two short tributaries known as the West Fork Apple River and South Fork Apple River.

Toponymy

Apple River was so named on account of the crabapple trees along its course.[3] A folk etymology maintains the river derives its name from a German named Appel who fell near the river in the Black Hawk War.[3]

Geology

The river is part of the Driftless Area of Illinois, a region that was bypassed by the last ice age; "the glacial sweep which ironed out hills and filled valleys in other parts of the state left this area unscratched.[4] During the Ice Age, the Apple River had its original course reversed. It once flowed to the Pecatonica River. It now flows southwest to the Mississippi River.[5] The result is a deep canyon, part of which is preserved in Apple River Canyon State Park.

See also

Notes
  1. "USGS Current Conditions for USGS 05419000 APPLE RIVER NEAR HANOVER, IL".
  2. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 13, 2011
  3. Illinois Central Magazine. Illinois Central Railroad Company. 1922. p. 42.
  4. Illinois Department of Natural Resources Archived July 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved July 12, 2007
  5. Illinois DNR on Driftless Area Archived November 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved July 12, 2007

References
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