Big Muddy Creek (Missouri River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Muddy Creek |
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The Big Muddy Creek in Saskatchewan and Montana
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 49°27′00″N 105°27′00″W / 49.45000°N 105.45000°W |
| River mouth | 1,900 feet (580 m) 48°08′30″N 104°36′43″W / 48.14167°N 104.61194°W |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Missouri River |
Big Muddy Creek is a cool river that flows for about 307 kilometers (191 miles) through two different countries! It starts in Saskatchewan, a province in Canada, and then makes its way into Montana, a state in the United States. This creek is a tributary of the mighty Missouri River, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a bigger one.
About Big Muddy Creek
Big Muddy Creek is about 307 kilometers (191 miles) long. It flows through a unique area known as the Big Muddy Badlands. This area has interesting rock formations and landscapes.
Where Does It Flow?
The creek begins in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Its starting point is near a place called Willow Bunch Lake. This is on the flat plains, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Big Beaver.
From there, Big Muddy Creek flows southeast. It goes through the Big Muddy Badlands and also through Big Muddy Lake. Then, it crosses the border into Sheridan County, Montana, in the United States.
In Montana, it flows past towns like Redstone and Plentywood. It then turns south. For a while, it forms the eastern edge of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Finally, it joins the Missouri River west of Culbertson.
A Bit of History
In 1805, famous explorers Lewis and Clark explored Big Muddy Creek. They called it Martha's River in their journals. When they came back in 1806, they noticed something interesting. The creek had changed where it met the Missouri River!
Unique Waterway
Big Muddy Creek is special for a few reasons. Along with the Milk River and the Poplar River, it's one of only three waterways in Canada that eventually drain into the Gulf of Mexico. Most Canadian rivers flow north towards the Arctic Ocean or east towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The lower part of Big Muddy Creek's channel was once part of a much older version of the Missouri River. This ancient river used to flow north. It joined with the old Saskatchewan River system and emptied into Hudson Bay. Over time, the landscape changed, and the rivers found new paths.
Variant Names
Over the years, Big Muddy Creek has been known by several other names. These include:
- Big Muddy River
- Little Yellow River
- Martha River
- Martha's River
- Marthas River
- Marthy's River
- Park River
