Roaring River (Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roaring River |
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The Roaring River meets the alluvial fan created by the Lawn Lake flood of 1982
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 11,519 ft (3,511 m) 40°28′15″N 105°38′48″W / 40.47083°N 105.64667°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with Fall River 8,563 ft (2,610 m) 40°24′34″N 105°38′13″W / 40.40944°N 105.63694°W |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Fall—Big Thompson— South Platte—Platte— Missouri—Mississippi |
The Roaring River is a river about 6.5-mile-long (10.5 km) in Larimer County, Colorado. It's a smaller river that flows into the Fall River. The Roaring River starts at Crystal Lake, high up in the Mummy Range mountains within Rocky Mountain National Park. It then flows through Lawn Lake before joining the Fall River in an area called Horseshoe Park.
How the Roaring River Changed
In 1982, something big happened that changed the Roaring River. The Lawn Lake Dam broke, causing a huge flood. This flood rushed down the river, making its path much wider and deeper.
The Big Flood of 1982
When the dam broke, a lot of water and debris, like rocks and dirt, flowed very quickly. This powerful rush of water carved out the river's channel. It also left a large, fan-shaped pile of rocks and dirt where the river meets Horseshoe Park. This pile is called an alluvial fan. It shows how much material the flood moved.
