Powder River

The Powder River is a major river in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana. It flows eastward, originating in Wyoming and emptying into the Missouri River. The river is notable for its wide, shallow channels and the large areas of flat grasslands known as the Powder River Basin, which contain significant coal deposits. Historically, the river was important for Native American tribes and later for settlers and industry. Today, it plays a role in regional ecology, agriculture, and energy production, especially through coal mining in the basin associated with the river's watershed.