South Fork Republican River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Fork Republican River |
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The river in Hale, Colorado.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lincoln County, Colorado 5,384 ft (1,641 m) 39°12′53″N 103°20′14″W / 39.21472°N 103.33722°W |
| River mouth | Republican River Benkelman, Nebraska 2,969 ft (905 m) 40°02′30″N 101°31′17″W / 40.04167°N 101.52139°W |
| Length | 171 mi (275 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,778 sq mi (7,190 km2) |
| Watersheds | South Fork Republican- Republican-Kansas-Missouri- Mississippi |
The South Fork Republican River is a river that starts in Lincoln County, Colorado, Colorado, United States. It flows about 171 miles (275 km) (275 km) through Colorado and Kansas. This river eventually joins the Republican River in Dundy County, Nebraska.
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About the South Fork Republican River
The South Fork Republican River is an important waterway in the central United States. It begins high up in the plains of eastern Colorado. From there, it travels eastward, crossing into Kansas before reaching Nebraska.
Where the River Flows
As the river flows, it passes through several counties. In Colorado, it goes through Kit Carson and Yuma Counties. Then, it enters Cheyenne County in Kansas. Finally, it meets the Republican River in Nebraska.
A large lake called Bonny Reservoir is also found on the South Fork Republican River. This reservoir is located in Yuma County, Colorado.
The River's Drainage Area
The South Fork Republican River collects water from a very large area. This area is called its drainage basin. The basin covers about 2,778 square miles (7,190 km2) (7,195 km²).
Most of this area, about 75.8%, is in eastern Colorado. A smaller part, about 24.0%, is in northwestern Kansas. A tiny bit, only 0.2%, is in southwestern Nebraska.
Sharing the River's Water
The water from the South Fork Republican River is shared by three states: Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. How they share the water is decided by an agreement. This agreement is called the Republican River Compact.
The states signed this important water agreement on December 31, 1942. It helps make sure that each state gets a fair share of the river's water.
