Sacagawea River
Encyclopedia
The Sacagawea River is a tributary of the Musselshell River
, approximately 30 mi (48 km) long, in north-central Montana
in the United States
. It rises on the plains of northern Fergus County
and flows eastward. The river formerly joined the Musselshell five miles above the confluence of the Musselshell with the Missouri
, but it now flows into the arm of Fort Peck Lake
on the Missouri formed by the mouth of the Musselshell.
The river was explored during the Lewis and Clark Expedition
and named after their guide, Sacagawea
. The river was named after her because she was in a canoe, and got caught in a storm. The canoe nearly tipped over, the expedition members were trying to balance the boat, but Sacajawea collected all the books, records, and instruments from the journey. They may have been covered in some material which prevented water damage. The river was named after her for this deed.
Musselshell River
The Musselshell River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long from its origins at the confluence of its North and South Forks near Martinsdale, Montana to its mouth on the Missouri River. It is located east of the Continental divide entirely within Montana in the United States...
, approximately 30 mi (48 km) long, in north-central Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It rises on the plains of northern Fergus County
Fergus County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument -Demographics:...
and flows eastward. The river formerly joined the Musselshell five miles above the confluence of the Musselshell with the Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, but it now flows into the arm of Fort Peck Lake
Fort Peck Lake
Fort Peck Lake, or Lake Fort Peck, is a major reservoir in Montana, formed by the Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River. The lake lies in the eastern prairie region of Montana approximately east of Great Falls and north of Billings, reaching into portions of six counties.The dam and reservoir were...
on the Missouri formed by the mouth of the Musselshell.
The river was explored during the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
and named after their guide, Sacagawea
Sacagawea
Sacagawea ; was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States...
. The river was named after her because she was in a canoe, and got caught in a storm. The canoe nearly tipped over, the expedition members were trying to balance the boat, but Sacajawea collected all the books, records, and instruments from the journey. They may have been covered in some material which prevented water damage. The river was named after her for this deed.