An Overview of Arkansas Rivers and Lakes
Largest Water Features in Arkansas
Arkansas is home to several significant water bodies. The largest rivers include the Arkansas River, known for its importance in transportation and recreation, and the Mississippi River, which forms the eastern border of the state. Major lakes and reservoirs include Lake Ouachita, famous for its clear waters and recreational opportunities, and Greers Ferry Lake, popular for fishing and boating.
Sources of Water for Arkansas Rivers and Lakes
Many rivers and lakes in Arkansas are fed by local sources such as mountain snowmelt from the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains within the state. However, some, like the Arkansas River, also receive water from distant mountain ranges in other states through tributaries and runoff, ensuring a consistent flow throughout the year.
Types of Rivers in Arkansas
Arkansas features a variety of rivers. Major perennial rivers like the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers flow year-round. Exotic rivers such as the Buffalo National River offer scenic beauty and unique ecosystems. Tributary rivers like the White River feed into larger systems, while distributary rivers like the St. Francis River branch out into multiple channels. Man-made rivers like aqueducts and canals are also present, serving irrigation and transportation needs.
Types of Lakes in Arkansas
Arkansas boasts diverse lake types. Fluvial lakes like Lake Conway formed from river meandering, while tectonic lakes like Lake Ouachita resulted from geological faulting. Anthropogenic lakes such as Lake Hamilton were created for hydroelectric power and recreation. These lakes provide habitats for wildlife and recreational opportunities like fishing and boating.
Direction of Rivers in Arkansas
Rivers in Arkansas generally flow from north to south or east to west. Examples include the Arkansas River, which runs east to west across the state, and the Mississippi River, which flows south along the eastern border.
Nature of Lakes in Arkansas
Many lakes in Arkansas are man-made reservoirs, constructed primarily for flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation. Examples include Beaver Lake and Lake Ouachita, managed by state and federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Use of Rivers for Transportation in Arkansas
Rivers in Arkansas are used for transportation but are limited in cargo shipping compared to coastal regions. The Arkansas River supports barge traffic, primarily transporting bulk commodities like agricultural products and industrial materials.
Dams on Arkansas Rivers and Lakes
Arkansas has numerous dams serving various purposes. Dams on the Arkansas River and other waterways are used for irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation. Examples include the Bull Shoals Dam on the White River and the Murray Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River.
Recreational Use of Arkansas Water Bodies
Arkansas lakes, reservoirs, and rivers are popular for recreational activities. Lake Ouachita and Greers Ferry Lake are renowned for fishing and boating. The Buffalo National River is a favorite for kayaking and canoeing, offering scenic beauty and challenging rapids.
Agricultural Use of Arkansas Water Resources
Several lakes and rivers in Arkansas support the state's agriculture industry. Irrigation from reservoirs like Lake Conway helps sustain crops, while rivers like the Arkansas River provide water for farming along their banks.
Arkansas Rivers, Lakes, Streams and Water Features
Antoine River, Pike County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Arkansas County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Conway County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Crawford County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Desha County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Faulkner County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Franklin County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Jefferson County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Johnson County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Lincoln County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Logan County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Perry County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Pope County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Sebastian County, Arkansas
Arkansas River, Yell County, Arkansas
Bayou Bartholomew,Ashley County, Arkansas
Bayou Bartholomew,Desha County, Arkansas
Bayou Bartholomew,Drew County, Arkansas
Bayou Bartholomew,Jefferson County, Arkansas
Bayou Bartholomew,Lincoln County, Arkansas
Bayou Des Arc,White County, Arkansas
Bayou DeView,Cross County, Arkansas
Bayou DeView,Jackson County, Arkansas
Bayou DeView,Monroe County, Arkansas
Bayou DeView,Poinsett County, Arkansas
Bayou DeView,Woodruff County, Arkansas
Bayou Macon,Chicot County, Arkansas
Bayou Meto,Arkansas County, Arkansas
Bayou Meto,Faulkner County, Arkansas
Bayou Meto,Jefferson County, Arkansas
Bayou Meto,Lonoke County, Arkansas
Bayou Meto,Prairie County, Arkansas
Bayou Meto,Pulaski County, Arkansas
Beaver Lake, Benton County, Arkansas
Beaver Lake, Carroll County, Arkansas
Beaver Lake, Washington County, Arkansas
Big Creek, Lee County, Arkansas
Big Creek, Monroe County, Arkansas
Big Creek, Phillips County, Arkansas
Big Lake, Mississippi County, Arkansas
Black River, Independence County, Arkansas
Black River, Jackson County, Arkansas
Black River, Lawrence County, Arkansas
Black River, Randolph County, Arkansas
Blue Mountain Lake, Logan County, Arkansas
Blue Mountain Lake, Yell County, Arkansas
Brandywine Chute,Crittenden County, Arkansas
Buffalo River, Baxter County, Arkansas
Buffalo River, Marion County, Arkansas
Buffalo River, Newton County, Arkansas
Buffalo River, Searcy County, Arkansas
Bull Shoals Lake, Baxter County, Arkansas
Bull Shoals Lake, Boone County, Arkansas
Bull Shoals Lake, Marion County, Arkansas
Cache River, Craighead County, Arkansas
Cache River, Jackson County, Arkansas
Cache River, Monroe County, Arkansas
Cache River, Poinsett County, Arkansas
Cache River, Prairie County, Arkansas
Cache River, Woodruff County, Arkansas
Cache River Ditch Number 1,Clay County, AR
Cache River Ditch Number 1,Greene County, AR
Caddo River, Clark County, Arkansas
Caddo River, Montgomery County, Arkansas
Caddo River, Pike County, Arkansas
Cadron Creek, Cleburne County, Arkansas
Cadron Creek, Faulkner County, Arkansas
Cadron Creek, Van Buren County, Arkansas
Campbell Brake,Lincoln County, Arkansas
Campbells Brake,Lincoln County, Arkansas
Coono Brake,Desha County, Arkansas
Crooked Creek, Baxter County, Arkansas
Crooked Creek, Boone County, Arkansas
Crooked Creek, Marion County, Arkansas
Current River, Clay County, Arkansas
Current River, Randolph County, Arkansas
Cypress Swamp, Lee County, Arkansas
Cypress Swamp, Monroe County, Arkansas
Cypress Swamp, Phillips County, Arkansas
David D Terry Lake, Pulaski County, Arkansas
De Gray Lake, Clark County, Arkansas
De Gray Lake, Hot Spring County, Arkansas
De Queen Lake, Sevier County, Arkansas
Desoto Lake, Phillips County, Arkansas
Dismal Swamp, Arkansas County, Arkansas
Eleven Point River, Lawrence County, Arkansas
Eleven Point River, Randolph County, Arkansas
Fourche Lafave River, Perry County, Arkansas
Fourche Lafave River, Scott County, Arkansas
Fourche Lafave River, Yell County, Arkansas
Frog Bayou, Crawford County, Arkansas
Glaise Creek, Jackson County, Arkansas
Glaise Creek, White County, Arkansas
Grassy Lake, Hempstead County, Arkansas
Greers Ferry Lake, Cleburne County, Arkansas
Greers Ferry Lake, Van Buren County, Arkansas
Hamptons Reservoir, Arkansas County, Arkansas
Horseshoe Lake, Crittenden County, Arkansas
Illinois Bayou, Pope County, Arkansas
Illinois River, Benton County, Arkansas
Illinois River, Washington County, Arkansas
Kings River, Carroll County, Arkansas
Kings River, Madison County, Arkansas
L'Aigle Creek, Bradley County, Arkansas
La Grue Bayou, Arkansas County, Arkansas
La Grue Bayou, Monroe County, Arkansas
La Grue Bayou, Prairie County, Arkansas
Lake Catherine, Garland County, Arkansas
Lake Catherine, Hot Spring County, Arkansas
Lake Chicot, Chicot County, Arkansas
Lake Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas
Lake Dardanelle, Johnson County, Arkansas
Lake Dardanelle, Logan County, Arkansas
Lake Dardanelle, Pope County, Arkansas
Lake Dardanelle, Yell County, Arkansas
Lake Erling, Lafayette County, Arkansas
Lake Ferguson, Chicot County, Arkansas
Lake Georgia Pacific, Ashley County, Arkansas
Lake Greeson, Pike County, Arkansas
Lake Hamilton, Garland County, Arkansas
Lake Lee, Chicot County, Arkansas
Lake Maumelle, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Lake Ouachita, Garland County, Arkansas
Lake Ouachita, Montgomery County, Arkansas
Lake Whittington, Desha County, Arkansas
Lake Winona, Saline County, Arkansas
Lee Creek, Crawford County, Arkansas
Lee Creek, Washington County, Arkansas
Left Hand Chute of Little River, Mississippi County, AR
Little Missouri River, Clark County, Arkansas
Little Missouri River, Montgomery County, Arkansas
Little Missouri River, Nevada County, Arkansas
Little Missouri River, Ouachita County, Arkansas
Little Missouri River, Pike County, Arkansas
Little Missouri River, Polk County, Arkansas
Little Red River, Cleburne County, Arkansas
Little Red River, White County, Arkansas
Little River, Little River County, Arkansas
Little River, Sevier County, Arkansas
Long Creek, Boone County, Arkansas
Long Creek, Carroll County, Arkansas
Midway Lake, Lee County, Arkansas
Millwood Lake, Hempstead County, Arkansas
Millwood Lake, Howard County, Arkansas
Millwood Lake, Little River County, Arkansas
Millwood Lake, Sevier County, Arkansas
Mississippi River, Chicot County, Arkansas
Mississippi River, Crittenden County, Arkansas
Mississippi River, Desha County, Arkansas
Mississippi River, Lee County, Arkansas
Mississippi River, Mississippi County, Arkansas
Mississippi River, Phillips County, Arkansas
Mulberry River, Crawford County, Arkansas
Mulberry River, Franklin County, Arkansas
Mulberry River, Johnson County, Arkansas
Murray Lake, Faulkner County, Arkansas
Murray Lake, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Nimrod Lake, Perry County, Arkansas
Nimrod Lake, Yell County, Arkansas
Norfork Lake, Baxter County, Arkansas
Norfork Lake, Fulton County, Arkansas
North Fork Saline River, Perry County, Arkansas
North Fork Saline River, Saline County, Arkansas
Old Town Lake, Phillips County, Arkansas
Osage Creek, Boone County, Arkansas
Osage Creek, Carroll County, Arkansas
Osage Creek, Newton County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Ashley County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Bradley County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Calhoun County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Clark County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Dallas County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Hot Spring County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Montgomery County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Ouachita County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Polk County, Arkansas
Ouachita River, Union County, Arkansas
Ozark Lake, Crawford County, Arkansas
Ozark Lake, Franklin County, Arkansas
Ozark Lake, Johnson County, Arkansas
Ozark Lake, Logan County, Arkansas
Ozark Lake, Sebastian County, Arkansas
Peckerwood Lake, Prairie County, Arkansas
Petit Jean River, Conway County, Arkansas
Petit Jean River, Logan County, Arkansas
Petit Jean River, Pope County, Arkansas
Petit Jean River, Scott County, Arkansas
Petit Jean River, Sebastian County, Arkansas
Petit Jean River, Yell County, Arkansas
Piney Fork,Izard County, Arkansas
Piney Fork,Sharp County, Arkansas
Plum Bayou, Jefferson County, Arkansas
Plum Bayou, Lonoke County, Arkansas
Plum Bayou, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Red River, Hempstead County, Arkansas
Red River, Lafayette County, Arkansas
Red River, Little River County, Arkansas
Red River, Miller County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Clay County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Craighead County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Cross County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Greene County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Lee County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Phillips County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Poinsett County, Arkansas
Saint Francis River, Saint Francis County, Arkansas
Salado Creek, Cleburne County, Arkansas
Salado Creek, Independence County, Arkansas
Saline River, Ashley County, Arkansas
Saline River, Bradley County, Arkansas
Saline River, Cleveland County, Arkansas
Saline River, Dallas County, Arkansas
Saline River, Drew County, Arkansas
Saline River, Grant County, Arkansas
Saline River, Saline County, Arkansas
Saline River, Union County, Arkansas
Seven Devils Lake, Drew County, Arkansas
South Fork Spring River, Fulton County, Arkansas
South Fork Spring River, Sharp County, Arkansas
South Fourche LaFave River, Perry County, Arkansas
South Fourche LaFave River, Yell County, Arkansas
Spring River, Fulton County, Arkansas
Spring River, Lawrence County, Arkansas
Spring River, Randolph County, Arkansas
Spring River, Sharp County, Arkansas
Strawberry River, Fulton County, Arkansas
Strawberry River, Independence County, Arkansas
Strawberry River, Izard County, Arkansas
Strawberry River, Lawrence County, Arkansas
Strawberry River, Sharp County, Arkansas
Table Rock Lake, Boone County, Arkansas
Table Rock Lake, Carroll County, Arkansas
Terre Noire Creek, Clark County, Arkansas
Tunica Lake, Lee County, Arkansas
Village Creek, Jackson County, Arkansas
Village Creek, Lawrence County, Arkansas
Wabbaseka Bayou, Arkansas County, Arkansas
Wabbaseka Bayou, Jefferson County, Arkansas
Wabbaseka Bayou, Lonoke County, Arkansas
War Eagle Creek, Benton County, Arkansas
War Eagle Creek, Madison County, Arkansas
War Eagle Creek, Washington County, Arkansas
White River, Arkansas County, Arkansas
White River, Baxter County, Arkansas
White River, Benton County, Arkansas
White River, Carroll County, Arkansas
White River, Desha County, Arkansas
White River, Independence County, Arkansas
White River, Izard County, Arkansas
White River, Jackson County, Arkansas
White River, Madison County, Arkansas
White River, Marion County, Arkansas
White River, Monroe County, Arkansas
White River, Phillips County, Arkansas
White River, Prairie County, Arkansas
White River, Stone County, Arkansas
White River, Washington County, Arkansas
White River, White County, Arkansas
White River, Woodruff County, Arkansas