North Fork Ninnescah River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Fork Ninnescah River |
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Country | United States |
State | Kansas |
Physical characteristics | |
Main source | Stafford County, Kansas 1,942 ft (592 m) 37°50′07″N 98°44′56″W / 37.83528°N 98.74889°W |
River mouth | Ninnescah River Sedgwick County, Kansas 1,302 ft (397 m) 37°34′05″N 97°42′19″W / 37.56806°N 97.70528°W |
Basin features | |
Basin size | 930 sq mi (2,400 km2) |
Watersheds | North Fork Ninnescah- Ninnescah- Arkansas- Mississippi |
The North Fork Ninnescah River is a river located in the middle of the Great Plains in North America. This river flows entirely within the state of Kansas in the United States. It is a smaller river that flows into the larger Ninnescah River.
Where the River Flows
The North Fork Ninnescah River starts in south-central Kansas. This area is known as the Arkansas River Lowlands. The river's beginning, or source, is in the very southern part of Stafford County. This is about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) south of a town called St. John, Kansas.
From its source, the river first flows towards the northeast. Then, it turns and flows southeast when it gets close to Plevna, Kansas. The river then crosses the eastern part of the High Plains. It flows into Cheney Reservoir, which is in an area called the Wellington Lowlands.
After leaving the dam at Cheney Reservoir, the river continues to flow southeast. It meets the South Fork Ninnescah River in the southwestern part of Sedgwick County. When these two rivers join, they form the main Ninnescah River.
River History
In 1965, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation finished building a dam on the river. This dam is located north of Cheney, Kansas. The main reasons for building this dam were to control floods and to provide water for cities. The dam created Cheney Reservoir, which is a large lake.