Roe River

The Roe River runs from Giant Springs to the Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana, United States. The Roe River is only 201 feet (61 m) long at its longest constant point, and had been named as the World's Shortest River by the Guinness book of World Records before Guinness eliminated the shortest river category. Towards its mouth, the Roe is about 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) deep.

For other uses, see Roe River (disambiguation).
Roe River
Roe River flowing from Giant Springs
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyCascade County
Physical characteristics
SourceGiant Springs
 • coordinates47°32′01″N 111°13′46″W[1]
MouthMissouri River
 • coordinates
47°32′05″N 111°13′49″W[1]
 • elevation
3,245 feet (989 m)
Length201 feet (61 m)

A successful campaign to get the Roe River recognized by the Guinness World Records as the shortest river in the world originated in 1987 with fifth-grade students of teacher Susie Nardlinger at Lincoln Elementary School in Great Falls. The river was unnamed at the time, so the students first had to petition the United States Board on Geographic Names to accept their proposed name, Roe River, then submit their proposal to Guinness. In 1988 future NFL football player Dallas Neil, then a student at the school, put in an appearance on The Tonight Show as part of this effort.[2]

Previously, Oregon's D River was listed in Guinness World Records as the world's shortest river at 440 feet (130 m). This title was contested in 1989 when Guinness named the Roe River as the world's shortest. Not to be deterred, the people of Lincoln City submitted a new measurement of the D River to Guinness of about 120 feet (37 m) long, when marked at "extreme high tide".[3] At that time, Lincoln City's Chamber of Commerce described the Roe as a "drainage ditch surveyed for a school project." Nardlinger shot back that the D was merely an "ocean water backup," pointed out that there was an alternative fork to the Roe which was only 30 feet (9.1 m) long, and suggested that a new survey be conducted.[2] Guinness apparently never ruled on the dispute, leaving the claim by the Roe stand, but instead chose to no longer list a shortest river, possibly as a result of this ongoing dispute.[2]

Roe River at its mouth, flowing into the Missouri River
Interpretative sign at Roe River

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Roe River
  2. Jennings, Ken (June 18, 2012). "What's the World's Shortest River?". Conde Nast Traveler. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  3. Finley, Carmel (1988-05-04). "D River Reclaims 'Lost' Title". The Oregonian.
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