St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)

St. Joseph River La Rivière des Miamis (River of the Miamis)[1][2]
St. Joseph River flowing west from Elkhart (top) through Osceola (middle) and into Mishawaka (bottom).
Native name	Sakiwäsipi (Miami-Illinois)[1]
Location
Country	United States
State	Michigan, Indiana
Physical characteristics
Source	Baw Beese Lake
• location	Hillsdale, Michigan
• coordinates	41°54′18″N 084°36′57″W / 41.90500°N 84.61583°W / 41.90500; -84.61583[3]
• elevation	1,096 ft (334 m)
Mouth	Lake Michigan
• location	St. Joseph, Michigan, and Benton Harbor, Michigan
• coordinates	42°06′51″N 086°29′18″W / 42.11417°N 86.48833°W / 42.11417; -86.48833[3]
• elevation	581 ft (177 m)[3]
Length	210 mi (340 km)
Discharge
• location	mouth
• average	5,022.45 cu ft/s (142.220 m3/s) (estimate)[4]
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Coldwater River, Swan Creek, Prairie River, Fawn River, Pigeon River, Elkhart River, Little Elkhart River
• right	Nottawa Creek, Portage River, Rocky River, Dowagiac River, Paw Paw River
GNIS ID	1624891

The St. Joseph River (known locally as the St. Joe) is a tributary of Lake Michigan with a length of 210 miles (340 km). The river flows in a generally westerly direction through southern Michigan and northern Indiana, United States, before emptying into Lake Michigan. The St. Joseph River drainage basin covers 4,685 square miles (12,130 km²), and is the third largest watershed draining to Lake Michigan. The land within its bounds is primarily used for agriculture. The river and its tributaries provide a variety of paddling and fishing environments. Historically, the river served as an important canoe transportation route for various Native American tribes, and for French Canadian Voyageurs.