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 an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream (''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 into which they ...
of
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. Lake Michigan–Huron has a larger combined surface area than Superior, but is normally considered tw ...
, in northeastern
Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. 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
Duluth ( ) is a Port, port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population ...
.
Lester River is known as in
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe (; Ojibwe writing systems#Ojibwe syllabics, syll.: ᐅᒋᐺ; plural: ''Ojibweg'' ᐅᒋᐺᒃ) are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland (''Ojibwewaki'' ᐅᒋᐺᐘᑭ) covers much of the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains, n ...
, meaning , 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 G ...
translated its name as , 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 Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
. 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, United States. It is part of the University of Minnesota System. UMD offers 17 bachelor's degrees in 87 majors, graduate programs in 24 different fields, a tw ...
and temporarily housed the
Great Lakes Aquarium
The Great Lakes Aquarium opened in 2000 and is located on the Duluth waterfront. A 501(c)(3) private nonprofit, Great Lakes Aquarium features animals and habitats found within the Great Lakes basin and other worldwide ecosystems such as the Amaz ...
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
Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for . The Mississippi River begins its journey from its headwaters at Lake Itasca and crosses the Iowa border downstream. It is joined by the Minnesota River at Fort Snel ...
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