Missouri River

Quick Facts: Who was Missouri River?

Subject:

Missouri River

Known for:

The nation's longest river, draining a vast semi-arid watershed through the Great Plains.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Missouri River is a river in the Central and Mountain West regions of the United States. The nation's longest, it rises in the eastern Centennial Mountains of the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Montana, then flows east and south for 2,341 mi (3,767 km) before entering the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri. The river drains a semi-arid watershed of more than 500,000 sq mi (1,300,000 km2), which includes parts of ten U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.

Career & Major Achievements

Although a tributary of the Mississippi, the Missouri River is slightly longer and carries a comparable volume of water. A fellow tributary, the Ohio River, carries more water. When combined with the lower Mississippi River, it forms the world's fourth-longest river system.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

For over 12,000 years, people have depended on the Missouri River and its tributaries as a source of sustenance and transportation. More than ten major groups of Native Americans populated the watershed, with most leading a nomadic lifestyle and dependent on enormous bison herds that roamed through the Great Plains.

Notable Quotes by Missouri River

“The Missouri accounts for 45 percent of the annual flow of the Mississippi past St. Louis, and as much as 70 percent in certain droughts.” (2009)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Missouri River

True or False: “True or False: The Missouri River is the longest river system in the entire United States.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Missouri River is the nation's longest river, but when combined with the lower Mississippi River, it forms a massive system, and the statement implies it is the single longest system.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Missouri River