KANSAS RIVER

also called Kaw River, 169-mi (272-km) stream in northeastern Kansas, U.S., formed by the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers at Junction City and joined by the Big Blue River near Manhattan. Flowing east into the Missouri River at Kansas City, it drains an area of 61,300 sq mi (158,770 sq km), including northern Kansas and parts of southern Nebraska and eastern Colorado. In July 1951, and again in September 1977, unusually heavy rains resulted in devastating flooding of the river area, especially around Kansas City.