Editing Missouri River (section)

===Major tributaries===
[[File:Yellowstone River, flowing through Paradise Valley.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|alt=A river flows past grass-covered banks, trees are in the midground|The [[Yellowstone River]], the fifth longest tributary of the Missouri, which it joins in North Dakota]]
{{Main|List of tributaries of the Missouri River}}
Over 95 significant tributaries and hundreds of smaller ones feed the Missouri River, with most of the larger ones coming in as the river draws close to the mouth.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Stone, Clifton
|url=http://www3.northern.edu/natsource/HABITATS/Missio1.htm
|title=Missouri River
|publisher=Northern State University
|series=The Natural Source
|access-date=July 10, 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523094749/http://www3.northern.edu/natsource/HABITATS/Missio1.htm
|archive-date=May 23, 2013
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> Most rivers and streams in the Missouri River basin flow from west to east, following the incline of the Great Plains; however, some eastern tributaries such as the James, [[Big Sioux River|Big Sioux]] and [[Grand River (Missouri)|Grand River]] systems flow from north to south.<ref name="MainstemSystem"/>

The Missouri's largest tributaries by runoff are the Yellowstone in Montana and Wyoming, the Platte in Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska, and the [[Kansas River|Kansas]]–[[Republican River|Republican]]/[[Smoky Hill River|Smoky Hill]] and Osage in Kansas and Missouri. Each of these tributaries drains an area greater than {{convert|50000|mi2|km2}} or has an average discharge greater than {{cvt|5000|cuft/s|m3/s}}.<ref name="USGS"/><ref name="USGSrivers"/> The Yellowstone River has the highest discharge, even though the Platte is longer and drains a larger area. In fact, the Yellowstone's flow is about {{cvt|13800|cuft/s|m3/s}}<ref name="Yellowstoneflow">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.sage.wisc.edu/riverdata/scripts/station_table.php?qual=32&filenum=2845
 |title       = Yellowstone River at Sidney, Montana
 |publisher   = Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment
 |website     = River Discharge Database
 |date        = 1965–1984
 |access-date = May 10, 2010
 |url-status  = dead
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051231072634/http://www.sage.wisc.edu/riverdata/scripts/station_table.php?qual=32&filenum=2845
 |archive-date = December 31, 2005
 |df          = mdy-all
}}
</ref> – accounting for sixteen percent of total runoff in the Missouri basin and nearly double that of the Platte.<ref name="Platteflow">{{cite web |url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06805500.2009.pdf |title=USGS Gage #06805500 on the Platte River at Louisville, NE |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System |date=1953–2009 |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319041013/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06805500.2009.pdf|archive-date=March 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the other end of the scale is the tiny [[Roe River]] in Montana, which at {{convert|201|ft|m}} long is one of the world's shortest rivers.<ref>{{harvp|McFarlan|McWhirter|1992|p=32}}</ref>
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="float:right; width:47%;"
|-
!colspan="7"|Longest tributaries of the Missouri River
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
|Name
|colspan="2"|Length
|colspan="2"|[[Drainage basin|Watershed]]
|colspan="2"|[[Discharge (hydrology)|Discharge]]
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! style="background:#faebd7;"|
! style="background:ivory;"|'''mi'''
!'''km'''
! style="background:ivory;"|'''mi<sup>2</sup>'''
!'''km<sup>2</sup>'''
! style="background:ivory;"|'''[[Cubic feet per second|ft<sup>3</sup>/s]]'''
!'''[[Cubic meters per second|m<sup>3</sup>/s]]'''
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Platte River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|1,061}}<ref name="ACMEmapper"/><ref name="USGSrivers">{{cite web |first=J.C. |last=Kammerer |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1987/ofr87-242/|title=Largest Rivers in the United States |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |date=May 1990 |access-date=March 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129040848/https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1987/ofr87-242/ |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|1,708
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|84,910}}<ref name="USGS">{{cite web |title=Boundary Descriptions and Names of Regions, Subregions, Accounting Units and Cataloging Units |url=http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/huc_name.html |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427215107/http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/huc_name.html |archive-date=April 27, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{nts|219,900}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|7,037}}<ref name="Platteflow"/>
|199
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Kansas River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|749}}<ref name="USGSrivers"/><ref name="NationalMap">{{cite web|url=http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |title=The National Map |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=March 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |archive-date=March 29, 2012 }}</ref>
|1,205
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|59,500}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|154,000}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|7,367}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2010/pdfs/06892350.2010.pdf |title=USGS Gage #06892350 on the Kansas River at DeSoto, KS |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System |date=1917–2010 |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402050119/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2010/pdfs/06892350.2010.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|209
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Milk River (Alberta–Montana)|Milk River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|729}}<ref name="NationalMap"/>
|1,170
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|15,300}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|39,600}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|618}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2010/pdfs/06174500.2010.pdf |title=USGS Gage #06174500 on the Milk River at Nashua, MT |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System |date=1940–2010 |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120022328/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2010/pdfs/06174500.2010.pdf |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|17.5
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[James River (Dakotas)|James River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|710}}<ref name="NationalMap"/>
|1,140
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|21,500}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|55,700}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|646}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06478500.2009.pdf |title=USGS Gage #06478500 on the James River near Scotland, SD |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System |date=1928–2009 |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402050132/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06478500.2009.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|18.3
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Yellowstone River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|702}}<ref name="ACMEmapper"/><ref>{{cite report |last=Miller |first=Kirk A. |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri984269/surwater.html |section=Surface Water |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |title=Environmental Setting of the Yellowstone River Basin, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming |year=1999 |access-date=March 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018083021/http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri984269/surwater.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|1,130
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|70,000}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|180,000}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|13,800}}<ref name="Yellowstoneflow"/>
|391
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[White River (Missouri River)|White River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|580}}<ref name="NationalMap"/>
|933
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|10,200}}<ref name="Whiteflow">{{cite web|url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06452000.2009.pdf|title=USGS Gage #06452000 on the White River near Oacoma, SD |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System |date=1928–2009 |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402050145/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06452000.2009.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|{{nts|26,420}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|570}}<ref name="Whiteflow"/>
|16.1
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Niobrara River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|568}}<ref name="NationalMap"/>
|914
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|13,900}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|36,000}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|1,720}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06465500.2009.pdf|title=USGS Gage #06465500 on the Niobrara River near Verdel, NE |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System |date=1928–2009 |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319041048/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06465500.2009.pdf |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|48.7
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Little Missouri River (North Dakota)|Little Missouri River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|560}}<ref name="NationalMap"/>
|900
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|9,550}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|24,700}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|533}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06337000.2009.pdf|title=USGS Gage #06337000 on the Little Missouri River near Watford City, ND |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System |date=1935–2009 |access-date=March 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402050138/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06337000.2009.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|15.1
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Osage River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|493}}<ref name="ACMEmapper"/>
|793
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|14,800}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|38,300}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|11,980}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06926510.2009.pdf|title=USGS Gage #06926510 on the Osage River below St. Thomas, MO |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System|date=1996–2009|access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402050203/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/06926510.2009.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|339
|- style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" style="background:#faebd7;"|[[Big Sioux River]]
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|419}}<ref name="NationalMap"/>
|674
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|8,030}}<ref name="USGS"/>
|{{nts|20,800}}
| style="background:ivory;"|{{nts|1,320}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2010/pdfs/06485500.2010.pdf |title=USGS Gage #06485500 on the Big Sioux River at Akron, IA |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |website=National Water Information System|date=1929–2009 |access-date=January 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028051239/http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2010/pdfs/06485500.2010.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|37.4
|}

The table on the right lists the ten longest tributaries of the Missouri, along with their respective catchment areas and flows. Length is measured to the hydrologic source, regardless of naming convention. The main stem of the Kansas River, for example, is {{convert|148|mi|km}} long.<ref name="NationalMap"/> However, including the longest headwaters tributaries, the {{convert|453|mi|km|adj=on}} Republican River and the {{convert|156|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Arikaree River]], brings the total length to {{convert|749|mi|km}}.<ref name="NationalMap"/> Similar naming issues are encountered with the Platte River, whose longest tributary, the [[North Platte River]], is more than twice as long as its mainstream.<ref name="NationalMap"/>

The Missouri's headwaters above Three Forks extend much farther upstream than the main stem. Measured to the farthest source at Brower's Spring, the Jefferson River is {{convert|298|mi|km}} long.<ref name="MainstemSystem"/> Thus measured to its highest headwaters, the Missouri River stretches for {{convert|2639|mi|km}}. When combined with the lower Mississippi, the Missouri and its headwaters form part of the [[List of rivers by length|fourth-longest river system in the world]], at {{convert|3745|mi|km}}.<ref name="headwaters">
{{cite magazine
 |last1=Nell |first1=Donald F.
 |last2=Demetriades |first2=Anthony
 |date=July–August 2005
 |title=The true utmost reaches of the Missouri: Were Lewis and Clark wrong when they identified the source of this great river?
 |magazine=Montana Outdoors
 |url=http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2005/MissouriSource.htm
 |access-date=January 14, 2012 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118010715/http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2005/MissouriSource.htm
 |archive-date=January 18, 2012
}}</ref>