Quick Facts about the Missouri River and Name Origin
River of the Wooden Canoe
The Missouri River’s history is profoundly rich and immeasurably impactful on the development of the west and our entire country. We often focus on the history of the people who utilized, idolized, befriended and destroyed this boundless resource, but often overlook the basic facts of the river itself. This waterway was aptly and appropriately named by the people who inhabited its wide reach, for, to this day, one can not separate the people from this beloved river.
Name Origin
The name, Missouri, comes from the Indians that lived in the region near where the Osage River meets the Missouri River near present day Jefferson City, Montana. From the Siouan language the name was, “Ouemessorita”, (pronounced Oh-ma-sur-ray). These were the Missouri and Ottoe Indians. The name Ouemessorita – Missouri, literally means “people of the wooden canoe.” Later anglicized to be spelled and pronounced, Missouri.
The wooden canoes were dugouts made from the regional trees. Much different than the birchbark canoes used by the Indians on the Mississippi.
The first European explorers to ‘discover’ the river were French explorers, Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, in May 1673.
Marquette called the river, “Pekitanoui”, (pronounced Peck-ah-tuh-new-we). This was from the Algonquian/Peoria Indians and means, Muddy Water.
Quick Facts
The Missouri was formed about 30 million years ago. However, the present course was formed about 115,000 years ago when streams from the Rocky Mountains were diverted by glaciers.
The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and the 4th longest in the world (when combined with the Mississippi River system).
It’s utmost source (defined by the longest flow of water at its furthest source to sea) originates at Brower’s Spring in the Centennial Mountains southeast of Dillon, Montana. This upper section form Hellroaring Creek (not the same one that’s in Yellowstone Park), Red Rock River, Beaverhead River and the Jefferson River.
The Missouri-proper starts where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers join near Three Forks, Montana.
It flows 2,540 miles to where it joins the Mississippi River near St. Louis. From there, the water continues to the Gulf of Mexico, another 1300 miles. From source to sea, the total is nearly 3800 miles.
The river’s drainage basin occupies about 529,400 square miles (1,371,100 square km) of the Great Plains, of which, 2,550 square miles (16,840 square km) are in southern Canada. The range of elevations within its basin is considerable: from some 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) above sea level in the Colorado Rockies near the Continental Divide to 400 feet (120 meters) where it joins the Mississippi.
Over 95 significant tributaries and hundreds of smaller ones feed the Missouri River. Major tributaries to the Missouri River include Yellowstone River, Platte River, and Kansas River.
By discharge, the Missouri is the 9th largest river of the United States, after the Mississippi, St. Lawrence, Ohio, Columbia, Niagara, Yukon, Detroit, and St. Clair.
Dams
There are 10 dams located on the Missouri River in Montana and another 5 dams located in North Dakota and South Dakota. Of the 10 dams located in Montana, 9 dams are located up river from the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and the town of Fort Benton. The first dam is Toston Dam. The next three are located just outside of Helena, Montana and form large reservoirs popular for recreation. They include: Canyon Ferry Dam - Canyon Ferry Lake, Hauser Dam - Hauser Lake and Holter Dam - Holter Lake. The latter, Holter Lake, is famous for its narrow, steep, winding canyon walls and is generally referred to as, The Gate of the Mountains. The section of river located below the three reservoirs near Wolf Creek and Craig, Montana is very famous for trout fly fishing.
There are 5 hydroelectric dams located in Great Falls, Montana: Black Eagle Dam, Rainbow Dam, Cochrane Dam, Ryan Dam, Morony Dam.
The largest dam and reservoir in Montana is located just downstream from James Kipp Recreation Area, where we take out for Badlands trips and 6 and 7 day trips, is Fort Peck dam, forming Fort Peck Reservoir. Fort Peck is a popular motor boat fishing destination and boasts more coastline than the entire coast of California!
Holter Reservoir from the sky
Two dams located just outside of Great Falls, Montana
The dams and their adjacent reservoirs located in North and South Dakota include: Garrison Dam - Lake Sakakawea (largest reservoir on the river), Oahe Dam - Lake Oahe, Big Bend Dam - Lake Sharpe, Fort Randall Dam - Lake Francis Case and Gavins Point Dam - Lewis and Clark Lake.
Do you have additional history nuggets or quick facts to add? Please email us with more - we love to learn more about our beloved river and share with the world!