Great Falls (Missouri River)
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The Great Falls of the Missouri River are a series of waterfalls on the Missouri River in north-central Montana. Historically, the falls marked the limit of the navigable section of the Missouri River. The falls are:
- Black Eagle Falls (26 ft.) at Black Eagle Dam;
- Rainbow Falls (47 ft.)at Rainbow Dam;
- Crooked Falls (19 ft.);
- The Great Falls (87 ft.)at Ryan Dam
A fifth waterfall, Colter Falls (14 ft.), formerly existed on the river, but it now lies in the impounded area behind Rainbow Dam. The falls were well-documented by the Lewis and Clark Expedition; the portage around the falls was a significant event of the expedition and they discovered Westslope cutthroat trout at the falls, which was given the scientific name named "Salmo clarki lewisi" in honor of both leaders.
The city of Great Falls, Montana derives its name from the falls.
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