Missouri is one of the longest rivers in North America and is the largest right tributary of the Mississippi. Translated from the language of one of the tribes that once lived on its banks, the name means "big and muddy river". This name fully confirms its character, because even the Mississippi, after the waters from the Missouri enter it, retains a changed color right up to the ocean.
Geographic location
As noted above, the Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi. It flows in a southeasterly direction, crossing several states at once - Montana, as well as South and North Dakota. Moreover, it is she who defined the natural boundaries of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. It should be noted that a small part of this river is located on the territory of two provinces of Canada.
General Description
According to official figures, the total length of this water artery is 3970 kilometers. The water in it is rather cloudy. This is due to the fact that a powerful stream washes away rocks. Even this fact does not scare away hundreds of thousands of tourists who annually come to her foractive recreation and entertainment. The Missouri River is notable for frequent floods, which can have catastrophic consequences (the last of which occurred about sixty years ago). The average annual volume of sediments that it brings is 220 million tons. The largest cities that are located on its banks are Kansas City, Omaha, Sioux City, Pierre, Bismarck and Jefferson City. This waterway is suitable for navigation (including for large river ships to the port of Sioux City). As for the total area of the basin, it is 1370 square kilometers, in other words, almost 17% of the entire territory of the United States.
Source and flow
The Missouri River, whose source is located in the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains, is formed by the confluence of three water arteries (Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin) at an altitude of 4132 meters above sea level. Nearby is the world famous Yellowstone National Wildlife Refuge. In the upper reaches, in a section 16 kilometers long, rapids are formed, the height of which reaches a height of 187 meters. After leaving the deep crevices, the river crosses the plateau of the same name in a deep valley. In this section, a whole chain of reservoirs was built on it due to dams. Characteristic features of the lower Missouri are an unstable and winding channel, as well as frequent floods.
Water mode
The upper reaches are characterized by snow, while the lower and middle ones are mainly fed by rain. The water regime is very variable. The water level in the downstream duringspring flood can rise to 12 meters. If the maximum water flow per second at this time reaches 19 thousand cubic meters, then in summer it does not exceed 170 cubic meters. To regulate the flow on the Missouri itself and many of its tributaries, a complex of large reservoirs was built. In addition, they provide irrigation and improve navigation conditions. The average water flow at the mouth is about 2.25 thousand cubic meters per second. The largest tributaries that the Missouri River has are such waterways as the Jefferson, Kansas, Osage, Yellowstone, Platte and Milk.
Flora and fauna
Diversity of flora and fauna is rapidly increasing downstream. Maple, ash, willow, sycamore and poplar became the most common representatives of the flora on the banks of this waterway. The Missouri River is home to over 150 species of fish. In addition, there are a large number of varieties of invertebrates. According to biologists, this is due to the high concentration of sediments dissolved in its waters. More than 300 species of birds live on the shores, as well as otters, beavers, muskrats, minks and raccoons. It should also be noted that some of the representatives of the fauna are not found anywhere else in the world, therefore they are listed in the state register of animals as endangered.
Economic value
According to historical data, the Missouri River was first explored in 1673 by a group of scientists led by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jollier. Since the timecivil war in the country, it plays an important role in transport communication. Barges with gravel, fertilizers, wheat, as well as other materials and products go here. A chain of reservoirs built in the twentieth century contributed to the economic development of the region. On the other hand, its construction has led to serious environmental problems here and to the deterioration of water quality. Be that as it may, at present, excellent conditions have been created in the river valley for the development of agriculture and industry.
Tourist attraction and cultural significance
Multiple studies indicate that the first inhabitants of the Missouri Valley appeared about twelve thousand years ago. Throughout history, 10 different Indian tribes lived on the local shores. Now there are no undeveloped places in the vicinity of the river, so travelers from all over the world can be found everywhere. They are attracted not only by the excellent infrastructure for outdoor activities, but also by the Yellowstone Nature Reserve. Separate words deserves the reservoir "Canyon Ferry", from which water falls from a height of 187 meters. In general, there are more than a hundred artificial reservoirs in the basin, each of which has its own characteristics.
The water artery has great cultural significance for the Americans themselves. The most famous work associated with her was the movie "Minds of the Missouri", directed by Arthur Penn. Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson, who took part in it in 1972 and 1975, were awarded the Academy Award for Best Male Leadroles.
Entertainment
The first settlers appeared on the banks of the river during the era of French expeditions. Since that time, active construction has been carried out here. Nowadays, a large number of tourist bases have appeared along the riverbed, each of which offers its own types of outdoor activities. The most popular of them were hiking, fishing, photo hunting and sightseeing navigation. Guides offer trips to local attractions, which also include visits to North American farms. The hard-to-reach terrain that surrounds the Missouri River is most interesting to overcome on horseback, mountain bikes or ATVs. The most popular among thrill-seekers are paragliding and going downstream in inflatable boats.
