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Missouri River
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The upper Missouri River at Gates of the Mountains, western Montana, north of Helena. Map of the Missouri River Basin highlighting major rivers, tributaries, dams, and reservoirs. The basin covers parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri, with the Missouri River shown flowing east and south from the Rocky Mountains to its confluence with the Mississippi River. Major dams such as Fort Peck, Garrison, Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point are labeled along the river, and the basin boundary is marked, showing the extent Lewis and Clark Expedition Black Eagle Dam and (foreground) Black Eagle Falls on the Missouri River, near Great Falls, west-central Montana, U.S. Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River near Glasgow, northeastern Montana, U.S. Missouri River Fort Randall Dam
At a Glance
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Missouri River summary
Quizzes
Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.
Guess the City by Its River Quiz
water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)
Water and its Varying Forms
Related Questions

Missouri River: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Contributors

  • Susan Kolodziejczyk

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Invalidated site: USGS Publications - The Evolution of the Lower Missouri River: A Discussion of the Geology and a Proposal for Research at Lisbon Bottom (PDF). Sep 02, 2026
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Nutrient Sources and Transport in the Missouri River Basin, with Emphasis on the Effects of Irrigation and Reservoirs. Oct 18, 2025
Add new Web site: Digital Commons at University of Nebraska - Lincol - Effects of Main Stem Impoundments and Channelization upon the Limnology of the Missouri River, Nebraska (PDF). Mar 13, 2025
Add new Web site: Digital Commons at University of Nebraska - Lincol - Effects of Main Stem Impoundments and Channelization upon the Limnology of the Missouri River, Nebraska (PDF). Mar 13, 2025
Add new Web site: USGS Publications - The Evolution of the Lower Missouri River: A Discussion of the Geology and a Proposal for Research at Lisbon Bottom (PDF). Feb 01, 2025
Add new Web site: Kansas Department of Agriculture - Missouri River. Nov 23, 2024
Add new Web site: North Dakota Department of Water Resources - Today's Missouri River. Oct 09, 2024
Add new Web site: DigitalCommons at University of Nebraska - Lincoln - The Control, Development and Utilization of the Missouri River and its Tributaries. Jun 28, 2024
Add new Web site: Legends of America - The Mighty Missouri River. Feb 23, 2024
Add new Web site: Missouri Department of Conservation - Missouri River. Sep 14, 2023
Add new Web site: American Rivers - Missouri River, United States. Nov 09, 2021
Noted that Native American peoples such as the Blackfoot, Hidatsa, and Crow lived in the area of the Missouri River for millennia. Mar 22, 2017
Add new Web site: Social Studies for Kids - Missouri River, United States. Apr 12, 2014
Text added that further distinguishes the Missouri River proper from the river system it belongs to. Feb 20, 2014
Media added. May 26, 2011
Article revised and updated. May 26, 2011
Added mention that the Missouri River was the second longest river and (with the Red Rock River) the third longest river system in North America. Apr 29, 2011
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Geography - Geography of Missouri River. Jul 29, 2008
Media added. Oct 12, 2007
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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