Belly River

Belly River
Mouth
Basin countries	Canada, United States
Mouth elevation	875 meters (2,871 ft)
River system	Saskatchewan River

Belly River is a river in northwest Montana, United States and southern Alberta, Canada. It is a tributary of the Oldman River, itself a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River.

The name of the river may come from the Blackfoot word "Mokowan" or "Mokoan", meaning stomach (the river was previously referred to as Mokowan River).

The river was the scene of the Battle of the Belly River between the Cree and the Blackfoot Confederacy in 1870.

The river gives the name to the Cretaceous age Belly River Formation, which was observed on its banks by George Mercer Dawson in 1883.

Course

The Belly River originates in northwestern Montana at Helen Lake, near the base of Ahern Peak in Glacier National Park. It flows north across the 49th parallel north into Alberta near Chief Mountain, in the east of the Waterton Lakes National Park. It continues north, being crossed by Highway 6 and Highway 5. It passes near the communities of Hill Spring and Glenwood, then turns northeast. It is crossed by Highway 2, then continues north along the base of the Mokowan Ridge, where it receives the waters of the Waterton River. Its flow becomes meandered before the river turns east around the Wild Turnip Hill, then it empties into the Oldman River west of Coalhurst, south of the Crowsnest Highway, at an elevation of 875 meters (2,871 ft).

Tributaries

From spring to mouth, the Belly River receives the following tributaries:

• North Belly River
• Mami Creek
• Dipping Vat Lake
• Bullhorn Coulee
• Layton Creek
• Waterton River
• McNab Coulee

See also

• List of rivers of Alberta
• List of rivers of Montana
• Montana Stream Access Law