Missouri River: Difference between revisions

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{{Image|Missouri River basin map.png|right|350px|The Missouri River system lies inland in the middle of the United States of America and forms the northeast state line for the state of [[Missouri]].}}
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The '''Missouri River''' is the longest [[river]] in the [[United States]].<ref name="RiversWorld" />  It runs through the north central [[United States of America|U.S.]], draining from [[Montana]] 2315 miles to the [[Mississippi River]] north of [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]].
{{Image|Missouri River basin map.png|right|350px|The Missouri River system lies inland in the middle of the United States of America and forms the northeast state line for the state of [[[[Missouri (U.S. state)|Missouri]]]].}}
The '''Missouri River''' and the [[Mississippi River]] are the two longest [[river]]s in the [[United States of America|United States]] and are of comparable length.<ref name="RiversWorld" />  The Missouri River runs 2300+ miles through the north central [[United States of America|U.S.]], beginning in [[Montana (U.S. state)|Montana]], draining through semi-arid parts of ten U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, until it joins the [[Mississippi River]] in its middle north of [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. Although considered a tributary of the Mississippi, the Missouri River carries a comparable volume of water. When combined with the lower Mississippi River, it forms the world's fourth longest river system.<ref name="RiversWorld" />


The Missouri River drains a sparsely populated, [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] [[Drainage basin|watershed]] that includes parts of ten U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Although a tributary of the Mississippi, the Missouri River is slightly longer and carries a comparable volume of water. When combined with the lower Mississippi River, it forms the [[List of rivers by length|world's fourth longest river system]].<ref name="RiversWorld" />  The river was one of the main routes for the westward expansion of the United States during the 19th century. The growth of the [[North American fur trade|fur trade]] in the early 19th century laid much of the groundwork as trappers explored the region and blazed trails. [[American pioneer|Pioneer]]s headed west ''en masse'' beginning in the 1830s, first by [[covered wagon]], then by the growing numbers of [[steamboat]]s that entered service on the river. Conflict between settlers and Native Americans in the watershed led to some of the most longstanding and violent of the [[American Indian Wars#Great Plains|American Indian Wars]].
== A path for westward expansion by European settlers ==
The combined Missouri-Mississippi river was one of the main routes for the westward expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The growth of the fur trade in the early nineteenth century laid much of the groundwork, as trappers explored the region and blazed trails. European pioneers headed west ''en masse'' beginning in the 1830s, many traveling by steamboats that entered service on the Missouri River. Conflict between settlers and Native Americans in the Missouri River watershed led to some of the most longstanding and violent wars between European settlers and Native American groups.


During the 20th century, the Missouri River basin was developed extensively for irrigation, flood control, and the generation of [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power]]. Fifteen dams impound the [[main stem]] of the river, with hundreds more on tributaries. [[Meander]]s have been cut off and the river "channelized" (re-routed) to improve navigation, reducing its length by almost {{convert|200|mi|km}} from pre-development times. Although the lower [[Missouri River Valley|Missouri valley]] is now a populous and highly productive agricultural and industrial region, heavy development has taken its toll on wildlife and fish populations as well as water quality.
== Dams and their environmental impact ==
During the twentieth century, the river basin was developed extensively for irrigation, flood control, and to generate [[hydroelectric power]]. Fifteen dams now obstruct the river, with hundreds more on tributaries. Meanders were cut off and the river "channelized" (re-routed to make it straighter and deeper) to improve navigation, reducing its length by almost {{convert|200|mi|km}}.<ref name=Dams /> Although the lower Missouri River valley is now a populous and highly productive agricultural and industrial region, heavy development has taken its toll on wildlife and fish populations as well as water quality.


== Provenance ==
== Provenance ==
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<ref name="RiversWorld">
<ref name="RiversWorld">
{{cite web |author=Howard Perlman, USGS |url=https://water.usgs.gov/edu/riversofworld.html |title=Lengths of major rivers |series=USGS Water-Science School |website=Ga.water.usgs.gov |date=October 31, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309100631/http://water.usgs.gov/edu/riversofworld.html |archive-date=March 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web |author=Howard Perlman, USGS |url=https://water.usgs.gov/edu/riversofworld.html |title=Lengths of major rivers |series=USGS Water-Science School |website=Ga.water.usgs.gov |date=October 31, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309100631/http://water.usgs.gov/edu/riversofworld.html |archive-date=March 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }}
</ref>
<ref name=Dams>
See the [[Wikipedia:Missouri_River#Dam-building_era|Dam-building era]] section of Wikipedia's article on the Missouri River for details on its many dams and their history.
</ref>
</ref>


</references>
</references>

Latest revision as of 08:12, 7 October 2024

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This article is about Missouri River. For other uses of the term Missouri, please see Missouri (disambiguation).

[[Image:Missouri River basin map.png|right|thumb|350px|The Missouri River system lies inland in the middle of the United States of America and forms the northeast state line for the state of [[Missouri]].]] The Missouri River and the Mississippi River are the two longest rivers in the United States and are of comparable length.[1] The Missouri River runs 2300+ miles through the north central U.S., beginning in Montana, draining through semi-arid parts of ten U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, until it joins the Mississippi River in its middle north of St. Louis, Missouri. Although considered a tributary of the Mississippi, the Missouri River carries a comparable volume of water. When combined with the lower Mississippi River, it forms the world's fourth longest river system.[1]

A path for westward expansion by European settlers

The combined Missouri-Mississippi river was one of the main routes for the westward expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The growth of the fur trade in the early nineteenth century laid much of the groundwork, as trappers explored the region and blazed trails. European pioneers headed west en masse beginning in the 1830s, many traveling by steamboats that entered service on the Missouri River. Conflict between settlers and Native Americans in the Missouri River watershed led to some of the most longstanding and violent wars between European settlers and Native American groups.

Dams and their environmental impact

During the twentieth century, the river basin was developed extensively for irrigation, flood control, and to generate hydroelectric power. Fifteen dams now obstruct the river, with hundreds more on tributaries. Meanders were cut off and the river "channelized" (re-routed to make it straighter and deeper) to improve navigation, reducing its length by almost 200 mi (321.87 km).[2] Although the lower Missouri River valley is now a populous and highly productive agricultural and industrial region, heavy development has taken its toll on wildlife and fish populations as well as water quality.

Provenance

Some content on this page may previously have appeared on Wikipedia.

Notes

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Howard Perlman, USGS (October 31, 2012). Lengths of major rivers.
  2. See the Dam-building era section of Wikipedia's article on the Missouri River for details on its many dams and their history.