stream
A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a strea ...
Ozarks
The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, as well as a small area in the southeastern corner of Kansas. The Ozarks cover ...
of southeast
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
. It is a tributary of the Current River.
The stream
headwaters
The headwater of a river or stream is the geographical point of its beginning, specifically where surface runoff water begins to accumulate into a flowing channel of water. A river or stream into which one or many tributary rivers or streams flo ...
are at and the
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also ''conflux'') occurs where two or more watercourses join to form a single channel (geography), channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main ...
with the Current is at .
The source area for the stream lies in western Reynolds County in the area just south of
Missouri Route 72
Route 72 is a highway in southern Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at Missouri Route 34, Route 34 west of Jackson, Missouri, Jackson; its western terminus is at Interstate 44 in Missouri, I-44 in Rolla, Missouri, Rolla.
Route 72 is one of ...
. The stream flows south through southeastern Dent County and passing under
Missouri Route A
A supplemental route is a state secondary road in the U.S. state of Missouri, designated with letters. Supplemental routes were various roads within the state which the Missouri Department of Transportation was given in 1952 to maintain in addi ...
and into northeast Shannon County. The stream meanders southwest roughly paralleling Route A then veering south-southwest to its confluence with the Current River just after passing under
Missouri Route 19
Route 19 is a long state highway in Missouri. Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 61 in New London and its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 63 on the north side of Thayer. Route 19 is one of Missouri's original 1922 highways, though ...
north of Round Spring.
Sinking Creek is one of the main features of Echo Bluff State Park, established in 2016. Park visitors often swim, wade, and float in the cool waters and swimming holes of the stream. The park's namesake is the Echo Bluff, which towers over the creek.
Sinking Creek was named for the fact it is a
losing stream
A losing stream, disappearing stream, influent stream or sinking river is a stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream. The water infiltrates into the ground recharging the local groundwater, because the water table is below the bo ...
along part of its course.
See also
*
List of rivers of Missouri
List of rivers in Missouri (U.S. state).
By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.
Mississippi River
Arkansas River
*Mississippi River
**Arkansas River (AR ...