IOWA RIVER

river formed by the confluence of East and West branches, near Belmond in Wright County, north central Iowa, U.S. It flows generally southeast past Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, and Iowa City. At Columbus Junction, about 25 mi (40 km) below Iowa City, the Iowa River is joined by the Cedar River, and the combined streams enter the Mississippi River nearly 20 mi south of Muscatine. Above Iowa City the river is dammed for flood control and recreation to form Coralville Reservoir and Lake Macbride. Its course with its headstreams is about 330 mi.