Middle Fork South Platte River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Middle Fork South Platte River |
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The river just after it passes under Highway 24 near Hartsel.
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Park County, Colorado 39°22′16″N 106°07′40″W / 39.37111°N 106.12778°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with South Fork South Platte River 8,776 ft (2,675 m) 39°00′40″N 105°44′25″W / 39.01111°N 105.74028°W |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | South Platte—Platte— Missouri—Mississippi |
The Middle Fork South Platte River is a river in central Colorado, United States. It's about 50 miles (80 km) long and flows into the South Platte River. This river helps drain a large area called South Park.
South Park is a big grassy basin found between the Front Range and the Mosquito Range mountains. These mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains, southwest of Denver.
Contents
Where Does the River Start and Go?
The Middle Fork South Platte River begins in the northwest part of Park County. It starts high up at the continental divide, which is a line where water flows to different oceans. This spot is near Mount Lincoln.
The river then flows southeast through a narrow valley. It follows State Highway 9 past the town of Alma.
Journey Through South Park
The river then reaches the northwest end of South Park near Fairplay. Fairplay is a town built on a small hill next to the river.
As it crosses South Park, the river continues flowing southeast. It stays between the areas drained by Tarryall Creek to the north and the South Fork South Platte River to the south. It also runs along the western side of Red Hill.
Many smaller creeks join the Middle Fork South Platte River along its journey. Finally, it meets the South Fork South Platte River. This meeting point is just east of Hartsel, about two miles (3.2 km) east of where State Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 24 meet.
A Golden History: The Colorado Gold Rush
The Middle Fork South Platte River was very important during the Colorado Gold Rush in 1859. People found a lot of placer gold in the river. Placer gold is gold found in riverbeds, often mixed with sand and gravel.
This discovery brought many new settlers to South Park. Before this, the area was mainly home to the Ute tribe.
Mining for Gold
The riverbed near Fairplay continued to be a good source of gold for many years. Mining and milling operations, which are ways to get gold out of the ground, continued there until the middle of the 20th century.
