Arikaree River
Encyclopedia
The Arikaree River is a 156 miles (251.1 km) tributary
of the Republican River
that starts near Limon
in Lincoln County, Colorado
. The river flows east into Kansas
, crossing the extreme northwestern corner of that state before entering Nebraska
. North of Haigler
in Dundy County, Nebraska
, the Arikaree River joins the North Fork Republican River
to form the Republican River.
The river is named for the Arikara
group of Native Americans
. The word "Arikaree" refers to "horn". Along the river is the site of the Battle of Beecher Island
in 1868.
The point where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County, Colorado
, and into Cheyenne County, Kansas
, is the lowest point in the State of Colorado at 3315 feet (1,010 m) elevation. This crossing point holds the distinction of being the highest low point of any U.S. state
. It is higher than the highest points of 18 states, plus the District of Columbia.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Republican River
Republican River
The Republican River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, flowing through the U.S. states of Nebraska and Kansas.-Geography:...
that starts near Limon
Limon, Colorado
Limon is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Lincoln County, Colorado, United States immediately east of Elbert County. The population was 2,071 at the 2000 census. Limon has been called the "Hub City" of Eastern Colorado because Interstate 70, U.S. Highways 24, 40, and 287, and...
in Lincoln County, Colorado
Lincoln County, Colorado
Lincoln County is the tenth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 6,087 at U.S. Census 2000...
. The river flows east into Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, crossing the extreme northwestern corner of that state before entering Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. North of Haigler
Haigler, Nebraska
Haigler is a village in Dundy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Haigler is located at ....
in Dundy County, Nebraska
Dundy County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,292 people, 961 households, and 637 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,196 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, the Arikaree River joins the North Fork Republican River
North Fork Republican River
The North Fork Republican River is a tributary of the Republican River. It flows eastward from a source in Yuma County, Colorado to just north of Hagler in Dundy County, Nebraska...
to form the Republican River.
The river is named for the Arikara
Arikara
Arikara are a group of Native Americans in North Dakota...
group of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. The word "Arikaree" refers to "horn". Along the river is the site of the Battle of Beecher Island
Battle of Beecher Island
The Battle of Beecher Island, also known as the Battle of Arikaree Fork, was an armed conflict between elements of the United States Army and several of the Plains native American tribes in September 1868...
in 1868.
The point where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County, Colorado
Yuma County, Colorado
Yuma County is the 14th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,841 at U.S. Census 2000...
, and into Cheyenne County, Kansas
Cheyenne County, Kansas
Cheyenne County is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,726. Its county seat and most populous city is St...
, is the lowest point in the State of Colorado at 3315 feet (1,010 m) elevation. This crossing point holds the distinction of being the highest low point of any U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. It is higher than the highest points of 18 states, plus the District of Columbia.
See also
- Arikaree BreaksArikaree BreaksThe Arikaree Breaks are badlands in northwest Kansas. They form a two to three mile wide break of rough terrain between the plains of northwestern Kansas and eastern Colorado and the south sides of the Arikaree and Republican river basins...
- List of Colorado rivers
- List of Kansas rivers
- List of Nebraska rivers