White River (Arkansas) facts for kids
The White River is a long river, about 722 miles (1,162 kilometers) in length. It flows through two U.S. states: Arkansas and Missouri.
Contents
Where the White River Flows
The White River starts in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas. This area is part of the Ozark–St. Francis National Forest, near Fayetteville. From its source, the river first flows north. It then makes a loop through southwest Missouri, where it enters Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri.
In Branson, the river flows into Lake Taneycomo. This lake is controlled by the Powersite Dam, which was the very first dam built on the White River. The river then continues downstream into Bull Shoals Lake. After this, it flows back into Arkansas and generally heads southeast until it reaches the Mississippi River. Even though the White River is shorter than the Arkansas River, it carries almost as much water. It usually carries more than 20,000 cubic feet (566 cubic meters) of water per second, and sometimes even more than 100,000 cubic feet (2,832 cubic meters) per second during floods!
How Dams Changed the River
Many parts of the White River have been changed by dams. Lake Taneycomo was created in 1913 when the Empire District Electric Company built a dam near Forsyth, Missouri. Other lakes like Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake, and Bull Shoals Lake are also man-made. They were created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help control floods, following a law called the Flood Control Act of 1938.
There are eight dams on the upper part of the White River. Six of these are in Arkansas and two are in Missouri. The White River National Wildlife Refuge is located along the lower part of the river. Because of these dams, the original White River in Missouri has been completely changed, as its valleys were flooded to create the lakes.
The White River was once famous for its Smallmouth bass fishing. While smallmouth bass can still be found in the lakes, trout have become more common in many parts of the river. This is because the dams release much colder water, which trout prefer.
Rivers Joining the White River
Many smaller rivers, called tributaries, flow into the White River. These include the Cache River, Bayou des Arc, Little Red River, Black River, North Fork River, Buffalo River, Kings River, James River, and Roaring River.
Several cities are located along the White River. In Arkansas, these include Newport, Augusta, Calico Rock, and Batesville. In Missouri, you can find Branson and Hollister along the river.
Fishing for Fun
Fishing for trout is very popular in the upper parts of the White River. This includes the area below Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas, through southwest Missouri (including all of Lake Taneycomo), and back down into Arkansas, up to the Highway 58 bridge in Guion.
The White River has been known as one of the best trout fishing spots in the United States for a long time. People enjoy fishing here for different kinds of trout, such as rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. There are also many fishing resorts located near Bull Shoals Lake and the North Fork River. Fishing for white bass is also popular in these waters.
Images for kids
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White River near Flippin, Arkansas, May 2006
See also
In Spanish: Río Blanco (Arkansas) para niños
