Republican, river, c.420 mi (680 km) long, formed in S Nebr. by
the junction of the North Fork and Arikaree rivers. It is joined
by the South Fork at Benkelman and flows E across the rolling
grasslands of Nebraska and SE across Kansas to join the Smoky
Hill and form the Kansas River at Junction City. Its broad
channel traverses a rich agricultural region. The river is
included in the Missouri River basin project. Many dams and
reservoirs have been built for flood control, irrigation, and
power. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright ©
2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. More on
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