Bad River (South Dakota) facts for kids
The Bad River is a river in South Dakota, United States. It flows into the Missouri River. In the Dakota language, its name is wakpá-šiča, which means "lake-bad". The river is about 161 miles (259 km) long.
Contents
Where the Bad River Flows
The Bad River starts near Philip, South Dakota. It is formed by two smaller rivers joining together. These are called the North Fork Bad River and the South Fork Bad River.
North and South Forks
The North Fork Bad River begins in eastern Pennington County, South Dakota. It flows for about 51 miles (82 km) to Philip. The South Fork Bad River starts in Jackson County, South Dakota. It flows about 36 miles (58 km) to Philip. This fork is found within the Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
Journey to the Missouri River
From Philip, the main Bad River flows east-northeast. It passes towns like Midland and Capa. Finally, it joins the Missouri River at Fort Pierre. The area drained by the Bad River is about 3,000 square miles (7,800 km²).
Why is it Called the Bad River?
The river's name comes from a sad event long ago. A sudden flash flood on the Bad River once covered an Indian village. This flood caused many lives to be lost. Because of this event, the river became known as the "Bad River." It was also historically called the Teton River.
River Characteristics
The Bad River carries a lot of silt when it floods near Fort Pierre. Silt is like fine mud or sand. The water in the Bad River is often considered "hard water." This means it has many minerals dissolved in it.
Natural Resources in the Basin
The land around the river has special natural deposits. These include manganese and fuller's earth. Manganese is a metal used in steel. Fuller's earth is a type of clay used for cleaning and filtering.
Water Use for Construction
Sometimes, rivers are used to help with big building projects. In November 2019, a company called TC Energy planned to use water from the Bad River. This water was needed for building part of the Keystone pipeline. The pipeline helps move oil across the country.
