The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. It generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. At 1,469 miles (2,364 km), it is the sixth-longest river in the United States and the 45th longest river in the world.

Its origin is in the Rocky Mountains in Lake County, Colorado, near Leadville. In 1859, placer gold discovered in the Leadville area brought thousands seeking to strike it rich, but the easily recovered placer gold was quickly exhausted.

The Arkansas from its headwaters to the 100th meridian west formed part of the U.S.–Mexico border.

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