Belle Fourche River
Template:Short description Template:Use American English
The Belle Fourche River (pronounced bel FOOSH; Template:Langx<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>) is a tributary of the Cheyenne River, approximately Template:Convert long, in the U.S. states of Wyoming and South Dakota.<ref>Template:Gnis</ref> It is part of the Mississippi River watershed via the Cheyenne and Missouri rivers. In the latter part of the 19th century, the Belle Fourche River was known as the North Fork of the Cheyenne River.<ref name=1872map>Template:Cite map</ref> Belle Fourche is a name derived from French meaning "beautiful fork".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Course
It rises in northeastern Wyoming, in southern Campbell County, approximately Template:Convert southwest of Wright. It flows northeast around the north side of the Bear Lodge Mountains, past Moorcroft and Devils Tower. Near the state line with Montana, it turns abruptly southeast and flows in western South Dakota, past Belle Fourche and around the north side of the Black Hills. In southern Meade County near Hereford, it turns ENE and joins the Cheyenne approximately Template:Convert ENE of Rapid City.
The point at which the river flows out of Wyoming and into South Dakota is the lowest elevation point in the state of Wyoming at Template:Convert. This is the second-highest low point of any U.S. state.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Elm Springs, the river has an average discharge of Template:Convert<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Usage
Template:Expand section The river provides significant recreation and irrigation for agriculture in western South Dakota. The total irrigation area of the river in South Dakota is approximately Template:Convert.