Bear Creek (Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bear Creek |
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Country | United States |
State | Kansas |
Region | High Plains |
Physical characteristics | |
Main source | Western Baca County, High Plains, Colorado, United States 3,051 ft (930 m) 37°22′05″N 102°59′59″W / 37.36806°N 102.99972°W |
River mouth | Arkansas River Near Lakin, Kansas, United States 93 ft (28 m) 37°50′42″N 101°19′21″W / 37.84500°N 101.32250°W |
Basin features | |
River system | Arkansas River watershed |
Bear Creek is a small river that flows through parts of Colorado and Kansas in the United States. It is a "tributary," which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger river. For Bear Creek, that larger river is the famous Arkansas River.
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Where Bear Creek Starts
Bear Creek begins its journey in a place called Baca County, Colorado. This area is part of the High Plains, which is a large, flat region in the central United States. The very beginning of a river is called its "headwaters."
Journey Through States
From its headwaters in Colorado, Bear Creek flows east. It soon crosses the state line and enters Kansas.
Flowing Through Kansas Counties
Once in Kansas, Bear Creek continues its path through several counties. These include Stanton County, Grant County, and Kearny County.
Where Bear Creek Ends
After its journey, Bear Creek meets the Arkansas River. This meeting point is about 8 miles southwest of a town called Lakin, Kansas. When two rivers join, it's called a "confluence."
Part of a Bigger System
Even though Bear Creek is a small river, it's an important part of a much larger water system. All the water from Bear Creek eventually joins the Arkansas River. The Arkansas River then flows into the Mississippi River, which eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. This whole network of rivers and streams is called a "watershed."