- Wapsipinicon River
The Wapsipinicon River (locally known as the Wapsi) is a tributary of the
Mississippi River , approximately 225 mi (362 km) long, in northeasternIowa in theUnited States . It drains a rural farming region of rolling hills and bluffs north of Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. The initial vowel is that in "pop".It rises in
Mower County, Minnesota and enters Iowa in northern Mitchell County. It flows generally southeast across rural Chickasaw, Bremer, and Buchanan counties, past Independence and Anamosa. Along its lower 25 mi (40 km) it turns east, forming the boundary between Clinton and Scott counties. It joins the Mississippi from the west approximately 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Clinton.It defines the western boundary of the
Driftless Area . While the Wapsi has a soft, recent catchment, the Driftless, to the east and north, tumbles down to the Mississippi in rugged canyons.The name of the river in the Ojibwe language is "Waabizipinikaan-ziibi" ("river abundant in swan-potatoes"), on account of the large quantity of arrowheads or wild
artichoke s, known as "swan-potatoes" ("waabizipiniin", singular "waabizipin"), once found near its banks. [ [http://www.freelang.net/dictionary/ojibwe.html Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary] ] Severe flooding on the river in1993 , as part of the larger floods in region, caused widespread damage to the surrounding cropland.Wapsipinicon State Park is located along its southern bank atAnamosa .Its name is the inspiration behind the
webcomic Wapsi Square ; in one strip, a character is seen attending a "Wapsipinicon DMV" office.The novel "The Cobweb" by
Stephen Bury (a pseudonym for authorNeal Stephenson writing with his uncleGeorge Jewsbury ) is set in the fictional Iowa twin towns of Wapsipinicon-Nishnabotna.The Wapsipinicon is known for excellent fishing for catfish, although it also contains northern pike, carp, sunfish, and walleye (in some areas).
ee also
*
List of Iowa rivers References
External links
* [http://www.iowadnr.com/parks/state_park_list/wapsipinicon.html Wapsipinicon State Park]
* [http://wqm.igsb.uiowa.edu/activities/stream/monthly%20sites/wapsi52j.htm University of Iowa: Wapsipinicon River]
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/historical/1881buchanan/buch_9.htm History of Buchanan County, Iowa: Wapsipinicon River]
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