Clark Canyon Reservoir, Montana

The Clark Canyon Reservoir was created by the Clark Canyon Dam, constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation starting in 1961, to reduce the risk of downstream flooding along the Beaverhead River. In August, 1805, the Corps of Discovery, otherwise known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, were slowly dragging their canoes and gear up the last dribbling bits of remaining river here, following the source of the Missouri River, and were soon to cross the Continental Divide, 30 miles further west. They called the camp they established here Fortunate Camp; it was the furthest point up the Missouri watershed they could get with their boats. The camp site however is now underwater, along with the town of Armstead, and the bits of highway and Union Pacific Railroad that had to be rerouted when the reservoir was made.