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The Chippewa River, in Wisconsin , flows approximately 183 miles (294 km) through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles (80 km) of its length, from the Mississippi River northeast to Eau Claire , but a hydroelectric dam at Durand now hampers navigability. The river is formed by the confluence of the West Fork Chippewa River, which rises at Chippewa Lake in southeastern Bayfield County , and the '''East Fork Chippewa River''', which rises in the swamps of the southern part of the Town Of Knight in Iron County, Wisconsin . The rivers' confluence is at Lake Chippewa , a Reservoir in central Sawyer County , which is the official "beginning" of the Chippewa River itself. The river flows from Sawyer County through Rusk , Chippewa , Eau Claire , Dunn , Pepin and Buffalo Counties, in Wisconsin, before emptying out into the Mississippi River. Sediment build-up at the river's mouth forms a Delta that protrudes into the Mississippi, creating Lake Pepin in the process. {Link without Title} Along the last 15 miles of its course, the main channel forms the county boundary between Pepin and Buffalo Counties. Major Lake s along the river's route include the Radisson and Holcombe Flowages, Lake Wissota and Dell's Pond , all of which are reservoirs. The largest reservoir by far is the Chippewa Flowage, which is the 3rd largest lake in Wisconsin. The river's primary tributaries include the Couderay , Thornapple , Flambeau , Jump , Fisher , Yellow , Eau Claire , Red Cedar and Eau Galle Rivers. The river's confluence with the Red Cedar is just north of the Driftless Zone , at which point its floodplain widens out considerably, and includes a number of riverine islands, several of which are several square miles in area. The primary settlements along the river's course include Cornell , Chippewa Falls , Eau Claire , and Durand . Historically, the Chippewa River was important as a floatway for Lumber ing and Papermaking . SEE ALSO |
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