Big River (Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big River |
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Dam at Cedar Hill, Missouri, on the Big River
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| Cities | Caledonia, Irondale, Park Hills, Bonne Terre, Byrnes Mill |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Iron County, Missouri, United States 1,318 ft (402 m) 37°41′18″N 90°57′58″W / 37.6883801°N 90.9662409°W |
| River mouth | Meramec River United States 410 ft (120 m) 38°28′18″N 90°37′05″W / 38.47172°N 90.61818°W |
| Length | 145 mi (233 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 955 sq mi (2,470 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The Big River is an important river in east-central Missouri, USA. It flows into the Meramec River. The Big River starts in western Iron County, near Johnson Mountain. It then travels through Washington, Saint Francois, and Jefferson counties.
The river forms part of the border between Jefferson and Saint Francois counties. It also marks part of the border between Jefferson and Washington counties. Finally, it joins the Meramec River near Eureka. The Big River flows through several state parks, including Washington State Park and St. Francois State Park. It also passes through the Lead Belt mining area.
The river's source is about 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level. Its mouth is about 400 feet (120 m) above sea level. The Big River is about 145 miles (233 km) long. The area of land that drains into the river, called its watershed, is 955 square miles (2,470 km2).
The Big River flows near or through several towns. These include Belgrade, Irondale, Park Hills, Bonne Terre, Morse Mill, Cedar Hill, and Byrnes Mill. Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into the Big River. Some of these are Flat River, Belews Creek, and Mineral Fork.
About the Big River's Flow
Like many rivers in the Ozark region, the Big River has special bends called entrenched meanders. This means its valley is usually about half a mile wide. Sometimes it's even narrower. The valley is typically 150 to 400 feet (46 to 122 m) deep.
This shape suggests the river first formed on a flat plain. Then, the land slowly lifted up, causing the river to cut deeper into the ground. This created the deep, winding valley we see today.
Boating and Fishing on the River
About 83 miles (134 km) of the Big River can be used for boating. However, there are five old mill dams along the way. You might need to carry your boat around these dams. This is because the water drops several feet or becomes very rough.
Aside from these spots, the river is calm and great for canoeing. It has a Class I difficulty rating, which is easy. Public parks are often found next to these dams. They are popular places for fishing. The river always has enough water for boating. This is because many natural springs feed into it all year round.
You can find many types of fish in the Big River. Some popular ones include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. Other fish like rock bass, bluegill, and redhorse suckers also live here.
River Health and History
Some areas near Park Hills have water quality issues. This is due to old mining activities in the past. Things like soil washing away from old mine waste piles can affect the river.
The name "Big River" comes from the French language. It is a direct translation of Grande Rivière.
The highest flood ever recorded on the Big River at Byrnes Mill was on August 21, 1915. The water reached 30.20 feet (9.20 m) high. The normal flood level at Byrnes Mill is 16 feet (4.9 m). The lowest water level ever recorded was on August 30, 1936. The river's average flow is about 862 cubic feet (24.4 m3) per second. August usually has the lowest average flow, while April has the highest.
