A coulee (or coulée) is a deep steep-sided ravine formed by erosion, commonly found in the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. Most coulees were originally formed during the rapid melting of the glaciers at the end of the last Ice age. Some coulees are dry for most of the year; others may contain small streams.
The word "coulee" comes from the French Canadian coulée, from French word "couler" meaning "to flow".
The term is oten used interchangeably in the Great Plains for any number of water features, from ponds to creeks.
An alternate meaning for this term exists in southern Louisiana where it identifies a large, paved channel for water runoff.
See also