Rainy River (Minnesota-Ontario)

The Rainy River (French: Rivière à la Pluie; Ojibwe: Gojiji-ziibi) is a river, approximately 137 kilometres (85 mi) long, which forms part of the Canada–United States border separating northern Minnesota and Northwestern Ontario.

The river issues from the west side of Rainy Lake (French: lac à la Pluie; Ojibwe: Gojiji-zaaga'igan) and flows generally west-northwest, between International Falls, Minnesota, and Fort Frances, Ontario, and between Baudette, Minnesota, and Rainy River, Ontario. It enters the southern end of Lake of the Woods approximately 19 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Baudette and Rainy River. It is used for hydroelectricity at International Falls. The river shares its name with the town of Rainy River, Ontario, and Rainy Lake. In addition, it shares its Ojibwe name with the Couchiching First Nation and Koochiching County, Minnesota. The drainage basin of the river stretches east to the height of land about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Lake Superior, where it was the southeast corner of the huge tract of land granted to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1670. It ultimately drains through the Winnipeg River, Lake Winnipeg and the Nelson River into Hudson Bay.