According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 1,068,778, Montana is the 44th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and MT is the two letter abbreviation for Montana. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of Montana.
Rivers in Montana
Gallatin River
The Gallatin River is a tributary of the Missouri River and has a length of approx. 193 km. The Gallatin River, along with the Jefferson and Madison Rivers, is one of the rivers that make up the Missouri at Three Forks. The Gallatin River flows in the states of Wyoming and Montana. The Gallatin River originates from Gallatin Lake in the northwest of Yellowstone National Park. From there it flows principally in a north-westerly direction, through the Gallatin National Forest towards its mouth at Three Forks. It is named after former US Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin. Due to its course through the Rocky Mountains, the river is a very beautiful to see and one of the top addresses for rafting, but anglers also get their money’s worth here.
Bighorn River
The Bighorn River is an approx. 742 km long tributary of the Yellowstone River. The source of the Bighorn River is in the Owl Creek Mountains in Wyoming and from there the river flows northeast to Montana, where it flows into the Yellowstone River. Both the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Areas and the Hot Springs State Park are located on the river.
Clark Fork
The Clark Fork River is an approximately 500 km long river in the states of Montana and Idaho. The Clark Fork rises near the town of Butte in Montana and flows from there in a principally northwest direction towards its mouth in Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho. The Clark Fork is a popular river for fly fishing.
Milk River
The Milk River is a 1,173 km long tributary of the Missouri River in the US state of Montana and the Canadian province of Alberta. The Milk River is even the northernmost tributary of the Missouri River. The Milk River is formed in the north-west of Montana by the confluence of the South Fork and Middle Fork, both of which come from the Rocky Mountains and flows from there in an easterly direction through Canada and then again through northern Montana to its confluence with the Missouri River near the village of Fort Peck in the northeast of Montana.
Missouri River
The Missouri River is a 4,130 km long tributary of the Mississippi and flows through the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. This makes the Missouri longer than the actual Mississippi and could be described as the longest river in the USA. The Missouri is created by the confluence of the Jefferson River and Madison River in southwestern Montana. It is not for nothing that he is called “Big Muddy”. With a catchment area of 1,371,010 km², the Missouri River, which consists of a high proportion of mud, covers one sixth of the total area of the country. It got its name from the Indian tribe of the Missouri. The Missouri River forms the exact border between the states of Nebraska and Missouri and was an important trade route for the state.
Powder River
The Powder River has a length of approx. 603 km and is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. The Powder River originates in the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming and flows from there to Montana where it flows into the Yellowstone River at Miles City.
Roe River
The Roe River is a very special river, because of its length it is in the Guinness Book of World Records. With a length of only approx. 61 m, the Roe River is the shortest river in the world. The Roe River originates from the Great Springs in Great Falls and flows into the Missouri River, which, together with the Mississpippi, forms the longest river system in the United States. Big and small can be so close together.
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River has a total length of approximately 1,114 km and is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. The Yellowstone River rises near Younts Peak in northwestern Wyomingand flows from there, how could it be otherwise, through Yellowstone National Park. After crossing the Yellowstone Lake, the river forms the so-called Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which has a depth of 275 m. The Yellowstone River flows into the Missouri River on the border between Montana and North Dakota.
- COUNTRYAAH: Alphabetical list of all cities, towns and villages in Montana, including biggest cities by population and capital city in the state of Montana.
Mountains in Montana
Granite Peak
The Granite Peak is the highest mountain of Montana with a height of about 3,904 m and is located in the southern part of the state in the mountain range of the Beartooth Mountains. The top of the mountain is in the Custer National Forest and is only 15 km from the border with the state of Wyoming. The Granite Peak is considered very difficult to climb and its first ascent took place in 1923.
Chief Mountain
The Chief Mountain is an isolated mountain in the Glacier National Park with a height of 2,768 m. The isolated mountain rises more than 1,500 m above the surrounding landscape and its eastern flank is almost down. Climbing the Chief Mountain is not particularly easy and it was climbed for the first time in 1892.
Absaroka Range
The Absaroka Range is a mountain range in the south of Montana and northeast of Wyoming and is one of the Rocky Mountains. The Absaroka Range has a length of approx. 240 km and a width of approx. 80 km. The mountain range is named after the Absarokee tribe. The Absaroka Range limits Yellowstone National Park to the east. The highest point in the Absaroka Range is Francs Peak with a height of 4008 m. Much of the Absaroka Range is covered by nature reserves such as Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, North Absaroka Wilderness, Teton Wilderness, Washakie Wilderness, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Custer National Forest, Gallatin National Forest and Shoshone National Forest.
Bitterroot Range
The Bitterroot Range is a mountain range along the border between the states of Idaho and Montana and is one of the Rocky Mountains. The Bitterroot Range has a length of approx. 489 km and a width of approx. 431 km. The Bitterroot Range is named after the plant Bitterwurz (English bitterroot), which is also the state plant of Montana. The highest peak in the Bitterroot Range is the Scott Peak with a height of 3,474 m.
Big Horn Mountains
The Big Horn Mountains are a mountain range in the south of Montana and northeast of Wyomingand are east of the Rocky Mountains. The Big Horn Mountains have a length of approx. 120 km and a width of approx. 50 km. The highest peak in the Big Horn Mountains is the Cloud Peak with a height of 4,013 m. Much of the Big Horn Mountains are covered by nature reserves such as the Bighorn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness. In Montana, the Big Horn Mountains are located in the Crow Indian Reservation area and are bordered to the north by the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The Big Horn Medicine Wheel can also be found in the Big Horn Mountains. The mountain range is known for the film Brokeback Mountain, which takes place in this region but was shot in Canada.
Lewis Range
The Lewis Range is a mountain range in the northwest of Montana and in the south of the Canadian province of Alberta and is one of the Rocky Mountains. The highest elevation of the Lewis Range is Mount Cleveland with a height of 3,190 m. Much of the Lewis Range is covered by nature reserves such as Waterton Lakes National Park (Canada), Glacier National Park, Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Flathead and Lewis and Clark National Forest. Since the Lewis Range runs through Glacier National Park, some mountains such as Mount Cleveland and Sinopah Mountain are very well known. The Chief Mountain is also nearby.
Lakes and reservoirs in Montana
Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake, which is located in northwest Montana, is the largest lake in Montana with an area of approx. 510 km² and the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. The lake is named after the tribe of the Flathead and over half of the lake is in the Flathead Indian Reservation. There is a rumor that there is a sea monster in Flathead Lake, the “Flathead Lake Monster”.
Canyon Ferry Lake
The Canyon Ferry Lake, which is located in the west of Montana near the capital Helena, is the third largest lake in Montana with an area of approximately 142 km². The Missouri River has been dammed here since 1954. In addition to energy generation and flood control, the reservoir is now a very popular local recreation area.
Fort Peck Lake
The Fort Peck Lake, which is located in the northeast of Montana, is the fifth largest reservoir in the USA with a volume of approximately 23.1 km³. The lake has been dammed up since 1940. Fort Peck Dam was built to prevent flooding of the Missouri River. Nowadays, the lake is used extensively for tourism, as there are 27 recreational areas around it and almost the entire lake is enclosed by the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge.
