Which river runs through the Missouri Valley?

• A. Mississippi River
• B. Missouri River
• C. Colorado River
• D. Ohio River

Answer: (B)

The Missouri River defines the Missouri Valley. This region is named for and shaped by that river, which winds across the central United States—from the Rocky Mountain region through the plains and into Missouri, where it joins the Mississippi River. Because the valley’s geography revolves around the Missouri River’s watershed, that river is the one that runs through the Missouri Valley. The other rivers point to different regions: the Mississippi River links to the Mississippi Valley, the Colorado River traces the Southwest, and the Ohio River flows in the eastern interior before joining the Mississippi.