Elkhorn River

The Elkhorn River is a river in northeastern Nebraska, United States,[1] that originates in the eastern Sandhills and is one of the largest tributaries of the Platte River, flowing 290 miles (470 km)[3] and joining the Platte just southwest of Omaha, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south and 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Gretna.

For the stream in Oregon, see Elkhorn Creek (Marion County, Oregon).
Elkhorn River[1]
The Elkhorn River in Antelope County,
April 2010
Location of the mouth of the Elkhorn River in Nebraska
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of North Fork and South Fork
 • coordinates42°36′36″N 099°11′00″W
 • elevation2,162 ft (659 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Confluence with Platte
 • coordinates
41°07′12″N 096°18′42″W
 • elevation
1,070 ft (330 m)[1]
Length290 mi (470 km)[1]
Discharge 
 • locationnear Waterloo
 • average1,529 cu ft/s (43.3 m3/s)[2]
Basin features
ProgressionPlatte—Missouri—Mississippi

Located in northeast and north-central Nebraska, the Elkhorn River basin encompasses approximately 7,000 square miles (18,000 km2). The Elkhorn has several tributaries, including its own North and South forks, Logan Creek Dredge, Rock Creek and Maple Creek.

History
The Platte River and tributaries, including the Elkhorn River

The Lewis and Clark Expedition encountered the Elkhorn River near its confluence with the Platte, and referred to it as the "Corne de Cerf". Located a few miles north of the confluence is the Elkhorn Crossing Recreation Area. This public park, operated by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, marks the location where thousands of immigrants in the nineteenth century, bound for the west, camped while waiting to cross the river.[4]

For years Logan Fontenelle and Joseph LaFlesche, young mixed-race men who worked with the Omaha people, owned the ferry that carried people, wagons and animals between the two river banks. LaFlesche had been adopted by Omaha chief Big Elk and named as his successor. Fontenelle, of Omaha-French descent, served the tribe as an interpreter in relations with the US Indian agent and negotiations with the government over cession of lands.

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elkhorn River
  2. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ne/nwis/annual/?format=sites_selection_links&search_site_no=06800500&agency_cd=USGS&referred_module=sw
  3. "The National Map" (Map). viewer.nationalmap.gov. United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 10 Feb 2011 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. "Platte and Elkhorn River". Papio NRD Website. Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.

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