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. The
Couchiching First Nation (the Ojibwe name spelled in transliterated form) is associated with this river, where it had traditional territory. The name of
Koochiching County, Minnesota was derived from the Ojibwe term. Rainy Lake and the river were named by French colonists. These names were translated and adopted into English by British colonists. The town of
Rainy River, Ontario was not developed until the late 19th century and not named until the early 20th century. The river enters the southern end of
Lake of the Woods approximately northwest of the towns of Baudette and Rainy River. A dam at International Falls generates
hydroelectricity from the river. The drainage basin of the river stretches east to the height of land about west of
Lake Superior. It was the southeast corner of the huge tract of land granted in 1670 by the English Crown to the
Hudson's Bay Company. The river ultimately drains through the
Winnipeg River,
Lake Winnipeg, and the
Nelson River into
Hudson Bay. The
Baudette-Rainy River International Bridge and the
Fort Frances-International Falls International Bridge both cross the Rainy River. The
Ontario and Rainy River Railway, opened in 1901 and now part of
Canadian National, follows the river on the Canadian side. (
lower right) forming part of the Canada-U.S. border and ultimately drains through
Nelson River to
Hudson Bay in the north ==Notoriety==