Well-Endowed: Montana Home to Shortest River in the World

BUTTE, MT - When you hear the word "river," what do you think of?

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I can make some guesses. Perhaps a float tube with a cup holder, packing a beer, a speaker, and a pair of shades, just coastin' and floatin' down the water on a sunny day. Maybe you imagine holding on to a fishing pole, fly or rod, on the flowing water surrounded by serene mountain landscapes, littered with tall, commanding trees and birds chirping all around. Perhaps a simple sound comes to mind, the sloshing and gurgling of the water running along its predetermined path. All are marvelous. But what if that river is shorter than just two Olympic-sized swimming pools? What comes to mind then?

The Roe River in Cascade County, Montana, is, from its longest running point to the other, the shortest known river in the world. It's length reaches an impressive 201 feet, simultaneously making it the easiest river in the world to float down. Some may say the most boring, but I'm a glass-half-full type of guy.

The story behind the river's notoriety and fame is a cute one indeed. Fifth-graders of a local Great Falls elementary school spawned a campaign in 1987 to get the river recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. They petitioned to get the name, Roe River (as it was previously nameless), officially instated with the United States Board of Geographic Names before taking their campaign to Guinness. The name supposedly came from the loads of trout that inhabit its waters in their mating season, with tons of eggs—roes—coming from the Giant Springs Trout Hatchery utilizing Roe's waters.

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So there you have it! Next time you're in the mood for a 10-minute hike down a as-scenic-as-it-is-short river, then Roe River has you covered.

Have you seen the infamous river?