Current River (Missouri)
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The Current River is a tributary of the Black River, which is a tributary of the White River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Current River is approximately 225 mi (362 km) long and is located in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in the United States. It drains a rural area of the eastern Ozark Mountains underlain by limestone bedrock and bordered by limestone and dolomite bluffs. Since 1964, over 134 mi (160 km) of the upper course of the river and its tributaries in Shannon and Carter counties in Missouri has been federally protected as the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national park in America to protect a river system.
The Current River is formed in Dent County in southeastern Missouri by the junction of Pigeon Creek and Montauk Spring and flows southeast for 44 miles (70 km), past Montauk State Park, and across Shannon County. Since it is spring fed, it maintains a near constant temperature of 58 degrees year-round, making it a popular tourist attraction. It receives the Jack's Fork River from the west near Eminence. This river is navigable throughout its length by canoe, and becomes navigable for small motored craft aprox. 3 miles SE of 19 Hwy (NE of Eminence). Big Spring in central Carter County near Van Buren flows into the Current River approximately 30 mi (48 km) downstream.
The Current River flows south through the Mark Twain National Forest and crosses into Arkansas, where the River becomes slow and silt laden. The Current River joins the Black (a tributary of the White River in the Mississippi watershed) approximately 10 mi (16 km) south of the state line near Pocahontas, Arkansas.
Some of the scenic geographical and historical sights along the course of the river include: Welch Spring and Hospital, Cave Spring, Round Spring, Devils Well, Big Spring, and Two Rivers (the junction of another popular floating stream, Jack's Fork meets with the Current). Many cavesare found along the river as well.
