The Milk River begins near Browning, Montana, at the confluence of the North and South Forks Milk River, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This unique waterbody angles northeast, crosses into Canada for about 168 miles, then returns to Montana. The river flows through Fresno Reservoir near Havre before continuing eastward through the Montana prairie. After traveling more than 700 miles from its origin, the Milk River empties into the Missouri River just downstream from Fort Peck Dam. Named by Meriwether Lewis during the Lewis and Clark Expedition for its distinctive milky white appearance, which comes from a mixture of clay, silt, shale, and sand, the river provides both irrigation for northeastern Montana and recreational opportunities.