Elkhart River | |
---|---|
Basin features | |
Main source |
Confluence of the North and South Branches of Elkhart River west of Wawaka, Indiana 872 ft (266 m) 41°27′37″N 85°31′51″W / 41.4602778°N 85.5308333°W |
River mouth |
Confluence with the St. Joseph River at Elkhart, Indiana 722 ft (220 m) 41°41′30″N 85°58′20″W / 41.6916667°N 85.9722222°WCoordinates: 41°41′30″N 85°58′20″W / 41.6916667°N 85.9722222°W |
Progression | Elkhart River → St. Joseph River → Lake Michigan → Great Lakes → St. Lawrence River → Gulf of St. Lawrence |
Physical characteristics | |
Length | 48 mi (77 km) |
GNIS ID | 434081 |
The Elkhart River is a 48.3-mile-long (77.7 km)tributary of the St. Joseph River in northern Indiana in the United States. It is almost entirely contained in Elkhart County. It begins as the South Branch Elkhart River from Port Mitchell Lake and the North Branch Elkhart River from Waldron Lake and merge to form the Elkhart River west of Wakaka, Indiana. It flows generally westward through Benton and then turns northward. It then flows through Bainter Town and Waterford Mills into the Goshen Dam Pond. From there it flows northeast through Goshen, Dunlap and Elkhart. It flows into the St. Joseph River at Island Park just north of downtown Elkhart.