<P> The Snake River is a 104 - mile - long (167 km) tributary of the St. Croix River in east - central Minnesota in the United States . It is one of three streams in Minnesota with this name (see Snake River (Minnesota)). Its name is a translation from the Ojibwa Ginebigo - ziibi, after the Dakota peoples who made their homes along this river . Kanabec County is named after this river . </P> <P> The Snake River with its tributaries drains a 1,009 square miles (2,610 km) area of Aitkin, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine counties . After initially flowing southward from its headwaters in southern Aitkin County, the Snake flows through Kanabec County, turning eastward near Mora, Minnesota, following a minor fault line . It drains into the St. Croix River 13 miles (21 km) east of Pine City, Minnesota . </P> <P> Two lakes are associated with the Snake River: Cross Lake and Pokegama Lake . Cross Lake is a translation from the Ojibwa bimijigamaa, meaning "a lake that traverses (another body of water)", and is located 13 miles (21 km) from the river's mouth . Pokegama Lake, located 17.5 miles (28.2 km) from the river's mouth, gets its name from the Ojibwa bakegamaa, meaning "a side - lake (of another body of water)". Major tributaries of the Snake River are the Knife River, Ann River, Groundhouse River and Rice Creek . </P>

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