river of southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas, U.S. It rises in Montauk Spring in the Ozark Mountains, in Dent county, Missouri, and is fed by the Welch, Cave, Pulltite, Big, Blue, and Round springs as it flows about 225 miles (360 km) generally southeast into the Black River in Randolph county, Arkansas. Cold, swift, and scenic, the Current River is popular for canoe and boat racing, floating, and fishing. In 1964 the U.S. Congress created Ozark National Scenic Riverways to protect 134 miles (216 km) of the Current and Jack Forks rivers.