Editing McKenzie County, North Dakota (section)

==Geography==
McKenzie County lies on the west line of North Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of [[Montana]]. The [[Missouri River]] flows easterly along the western portion of the county's north boundary line, and the enlargement of the Missouri as it discharges into [[Lake Sakakawea]] forms the eastern portion of the county's north and northeastern boundary line. The [[Yellowstone River]] flows into the northwestern corner of the county from Montana, and discharges into the Missouri at the county's northern boundary line. The [[Little Missouri River (North Dakota)|Little Missouri River]] flows northeasterly through the county's lower portion, on its way to discharge into Lake Sakakawea, east of the county's east boundary line. The county terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills, carved by river valleys and drainages. The area is partially devoted to agriculture.<ref name="MCND">{{Cite web |title=McKenzie County · North Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/McKenzie+County,+ND/@47.3254374,-103.6747634,9.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x5326814d362335fb:0x4361deba62fdde35!8m2!3d47.7714179!4d-103.4122495 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point on its south boundary line, at {{convert|2,684|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/McKenzie County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019) |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2860.566|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2760.133|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|100.433|sqmi}} (3.51%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_38.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 12, 2025}}</ref> It is the 1st largest county in North Dakota by total area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: McKenzie County, North Dakota |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/geo/chart/mckenziecountynorthdakota/LND110220 |website=www.census.gov |access-date=May 12, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

The McKenzie County landscape features a wide diversity of physical features, ranging from sugarbeet fields bordering the Missouri River at the northwest corner of the county to rugged badlands near the Little Missouri River in the south, where [[Theodore Roosevelt National Park]] and the [[Little Missouri National Grassland]] are located. Between the two rivers is a large area of prairie, ranging from gentle rolling terrain to rocky, rugged pastures. The southeast corner of the county, bordering on the Little Missouri badlands of neighboring [[Dunn County, North Dakota|Dunn County]], is abundant in wildlife, [[quaking aspen]] groves, and [[bur oak]] groves, interspersed in places with [[western red cedar]] on the north-facing slopes of the badlands.

The southwestern corner counties of North Dakota (Adams, Billings, Bowman, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Slope, Stark) observe [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain Time]]. The counties of McKenzie, Dunn, and Sioux are split between Mountain and [[Central Time Zone|Central Time]].

===Major highways===
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* [[Image:US 85.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 85 in North Dakota|U.S. Highway 85]]
* [[Image:ND-22 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 22]]
* [[Image:ND-23 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 23]]
* [[Image:ND-58 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 58]]
* [[Image:ND-68 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 68]]
* [[Image:ND-73 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 73]]
* [[Image:ND-200 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 200]]
* [[Image:ND-1806 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 1806]]
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===Adjacent counties===
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* [[Williams County, North Dakota|Williams County]] - north (observes Central Time)
* [[Mountrail County, North Dakota|Mountrail County]] - northeast (observes Central Time)
* [[Dunn County, North Dakota|Dunn County]] - southeast (observes Mountain Time in western section)
* [[Billings County, North Dakota|Billings County]] - south (observes Mountain Time)
* [[Golden Valley County, North Dakota|Golden Valley County]] - southwest (observes Mountain Time)
* [[Wibaux County, Montana]] - west (observes Mountain Time)
* [[Richland County, Montana]] - northwest (observes Mountain Time)
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===Protected areas===
Source:<ref name=MCND/>
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* Antelope Creek State Game Management Area
* Antelope Creek State Wildlife Refuge
* Bear Den Creek Public Use Area
* [[Little Missouri National Grassland]] (part)
* [[Maah Daah Hey Trail]]
* [[Theodore Roosevelt National Park]] (North Unit - contained within LM National Grassland)
* Tobacco Garden Creek State Game Management Area
* Tobacco Garden Creek Recreation Area
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===Lakes===
Source:<ref name=MCND/>
* Demicks Lake
* [[Lake Sakakawea]]
* Nohly Lake