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Big Blue River (Indiana) facts for kids

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Big Blue River Henry County Indiana
The Big Blue River in Henry County, southwest of New Castle.

The Big Blue River is a river in Indiana, United States. It flows for about 83.8 miles (134.9 km). This river is a smaller stream, called a tributary, that flows into the Driftwood River. From there, its water eventually reaches the White River, then the Wabash River, the Ohio River, and finally the mighty Mississippi River. So, the Big Blue River is part of a huge water system that covers a large area, called a watershed.

Where the River Flows

The Big Blue River starts in the northeastern part of Henry County. It flows mainly towards the southwest. As it travels, it passes through several counties. These include Rush, Hancock, Shelby, and Johnson counties.

The river also flows past several towns. You can see it near New Castle, Knightstown, Carthage, and Morristown. It also goes through Shelbyville and Edinburgh.

Near Shelbyville, another smaller river, the Little Blue River, joins the Big Blue River. About 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Edinburgh, the Big Blue River meets Sugar Creek. When these two rivers join, they form the Driftwood River.

Scientists measure the river's flow at places like Shelbyville, Indiana. The Big Blue River usually carries about 513 cubic feet of water every second. That's like filling about 3,800 gallons of water per second!

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