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Belle Fourche River
The Belle Fourche River (prounced bel
FYOOSH) is a tributary of the Cheyenne River,
approximately 290 mi (467 km) long, in the U.S. states
of Wyoming and South Dakota. Via the Cheyenne and
Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the
Mississippi River.
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It rises
in northeastern Wyoming, in southern Campbell County,
approximately 15 mi. (24 km) north of Wright. It flows
northeast, past Moorcroft and Devils Tower. Near the
state line with Montana, it turns abruptly southeast and
flows in western South Dakota, past Belle Fourche and
around the north side of the Black Hills. In southern
Meade County near Hereford, it turns ENE and joins the
Cheyenne approximately 50 mi (80 km) ENE of Rapid City.
The point at which the river flows out of Wyoming and
into South Dakota is the lowest point in the State of
Wyoming at 945 meters (3,099 feet) elevation. This is
the second-highest low point of any U.S. state. The
river provides significant flood control, recreation and
irrigation for agriculture in western South Dakota. The
total irrigation area of the river in South Dakota is
approximately 57,000 acres (231 kmē).
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