{{short description|River in the United States of America}} {{Other uses}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Roe River | image = Giant Springs07.JPG | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = Roe River flowing from Giant Springs | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Montana | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption=Location of mouth in Montana | source1 = Giant Springs | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= {{coord|47|32|01|N|111|13|46|W|region:US-MT|name=Roe River, source}}<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|767954}}</ref> | mouth = Missouri River | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|47|32|05|N|111|13|49|W|region:US-MT|name=Roe River, mouth|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/> | progression = | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Montana | subdivision_type3 = County | subdivision_name3 = Cascade County | length = {{convert|201|ft|m}} | source1_elevation = | mouth_elevation = {{convert|3245|ft|m}} | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = | river_system = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = }}
The '''Roe River''' runs from Giant Springs to the Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana, United States. The Roe River is only {{convert|201|ft}} long at its longest constant point, and had been named as the World's Shortest River by the ''Guinness Book of World Records'' before Guinness eliminated the category in 2006. Towards its mouth, the Roe is about {{convert|6|–|8|ft}} deep.{{fact|date=December 2022}}
==History== A successful campaign to get the Roe River recognized by the ''Guinness World Records'' as the shortest river in the world originated in 1987 with fifth-grade students of teacher Susie Nardlinger at Lincoln Elementary School in Great Falls. The river was unnamed at the time, so the students first had to petition the United States Board on Geographic Names to accept their proposed name, Roe River, then submit their proposal to Guinness. The children's name likely came from the Giant Springs Trout Hatchery adjoining the springs and which receives {{convert|650|–|700|USgal}} of spring water per minute used in primarily raising rainbow trout from their own ''roe'' (eggs). In 1988 <!--(this is unverified) Students Molly A. Petersen and -->future NFL football player Dallas Neil, then a student at the school, put in an appearance on ''The Tonight Show'' as part of this effort.<ref name="Jennings">{{cite web|last1=Jennings|first1=Ken|title=What's the World's Shortest River?|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2012-06-18/d-river-lincoln-city-oregon-ken-jennings-maphead|website=Conde Nast Traveler|accessdate=2017-10-01|language=en|date=2012-06-18}}</ref>
Previously, Oregon's D River was listed in Guinness World Records as the world's shortest river at {{convert|440|ft}}. This title was contested in 1989 when Guinness named the Roe River as the world's shortest. Not to be deterred, the people of Lincoln City submitted a new measurement of the D River to Guinness of about {{convert|120|ft}} long, when marked at "extreme high tide".<ref>{{cite news | first = Carmel | last = Finley | title = D River Reclaims 'Lost' Title | publisher = The Oregonian | date = 1988-05-04 }}</ref>
At that time, Lincoln City's Chamber of Commerce described the Roe as a "drainage ditch surveyed for a school project". Nardlinger shot back that the D was merely an "ocean water backup", pointed out that there was an alternative fork to the Roe which was only {{convert|30|ft}} long, and suggested that a new survey be conducted.<ref name="Jennings"/>
Guinness apparently never ruled on the dispute, leaving the claim by the Roe stand, but instead chose to no longer list a shortest river, possibly as a result of this ongoing dispute.<ref name="Jennings"/><!--starting in 2006 (needs source--> {{stack|thumb|Roe River at its mouth, flowing into the Missouri River.}} {{stack|[[File:Giant Springs Sign13.JPG|thumb|Interpretive sign at Roe River.]]}}
==See also==
{{portal|Montana}} *List of rivers of Montana
==References== {{reflist|1}}
==External links== *[http://www.montanakids.com/db_engine/presentations/presentation.asp?pid=192&sub=Geography MontanaKids.com] article on Roe River *[http://stateparks.mt.gov/giant-springs/ Giant Springs State Park] Montana State Parks *{{YouTube|id=WEGzvZ85dgs|title=Roe river: What Counts As The World's Shortest River?}}
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Category:Rivers of Montana Category:Tributaries of the Missouri River Category:Rivers of Cascade County, Montana