Giant Springs
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Giant Springs is a large natural spring located in Great Falls, Montana. Discovered by Lewis and Clark during their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, the spring produces up to 300 million gallons of water a day. This output makes Giant Springs the 2nd largest cold fresh water spring in the world, with a temperature of 54o F. The water originates in the Little Belt Mountains, almost 40 miles away, and takes almost 100 years to travel underground before returning to the surface at the springs.
Today, the Giant Springs State Park includes a trout hatchery, and is the site of the Roe River - the shortest river in the world according to Guinness Book of World Records.
Montana is also home to Warm Springs, the 1st largest freshwater spring in the world, & Big Springs (south of Lewistown, Mt), which is the 3rd largest freshwater spring in the world. Big Springs is also home to the state's largest cold water trout hatchery.