Arkansas River, Major river system from Colorado to Mississippi River, US
The Arkansas River is a waterway that crosses Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas before joining the Mississippi. The water flows through shallow banks across the Great Plains region and is controlled by eighteen locks and dams in the lower section.
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado crossed the waterway in 1541 near present-day Dodge City in Kansas. The McClellan-Kerr lock system was built during the twentieth century and allowed navigation far inland.
The stone gorge at Royal Gorge was considered sacred by the Ute and Apache for centuries. Today the waterway still separates the Ozark region from the Ouachita hills and shapes the place names of many towns along its course.
The area around the upper section offers opportunities for hiking and kayaking, while the lower stretch is better suited for leisurely boat trips. Access is possible at many points along the banks, but the current can become strong after rainfall.
The elevation drops more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the first 125 miles, making the upper section one of the steepest river stretches in North America. The granite walls at Royal Gorge rise in places over 1,000 feet (300 m).
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