Red River of the North

Red River of the North
Rivière Rouge / Rivière Rouge du Nord
The Red River in Fargo–Moorhead, as viewed from the Fargo side of the river
Countries	United States, Canada
Regions	Minnesota, North Dakota, Manitoba
Part of	Nelson River basin
Tributaries
- left	Bois de Sioux River, Wild Rice River (North Dakota), Sheyenne River, Elm River, Turtle River, Pembina River, Assiniboine River
- right	Otter Tail River, Buffalo River, Wild Rice River (Minnesota), Red Lake River, Roseau River, Seine River (Manitoba)
Cities	Fargo, North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Selkirk, Manitoba
Source	Confluence of Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail Rivers
- location	Wahpeton, North Dakota
- elevation	948 ft (289 m)
- coordinates	46°15′52″N 96°35′55″W / 46.26444°N 96.59861°W / 46.26444; -96.59861
Mouth	Lake Winnipeg
- elevation	712 ft (217 m)
- coordinates	50°23′47″N 96°48′39″W / 50.39639°N 96.81083°W / 50.39639; -96.81083Coordinates: 50°23′47″N 96°48′39″W / 50.39639°N 96.81083°W / 50.39639; -96.81083
Length	550 mi (885 km)
Basin	111,004 sq mi (287,499 km2)
Discharge	for Lockport, Manitoba, 20 miles (32 km) above the mouth
- average	8,617 cu ft/s (244 m3/s)
- max	152,900 cu ft/s (4,330 m3/s)
- min	491 cu ft/s (14 m3/s)

The Red River (French: Rivière rouge or Rivière Rouge du Nord, American English: Red River of the North) is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota, it flows northward through the Red River Valley, forming the border of Minnesota and North Dakota and continuing into Manitoba, Canada. It empties into Lake Winnipeg, whose waters join the Nelson River and ultimately flow into the Hudson Bay.

Several urban areas have developed on both sides of the Red River, including those of Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks-East Grand Forks in states of North Dakota and Minnesota, respectively, in the United States and Winnipeg in Canada. The Red is about 885 kilometres (550 mi) long, of which about 635 kilometres (395 mi) are in the United States and about 255 kilometres (158 mi) are in Canada. The river falls 70 metres (230 ft) on its trip to Lake Winnipeg, where it spreads into the vast deltaic wetland known as Netley Marsh.

In the United States, the Red River is sometimes called the Red River of the North. This distinguishes it from the so-called Red River of the South, a tributary of the Atchafalaya River that forms part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma.

Long a highway for trade, the Red has been designated as a Canadian Heritage River.