Potomac River: Difference between revisions
imported>Will Nesbitt No edit summary |
imported>Todd Coles (cleaned up some, needs to be revisited) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The Potomac River is located on the central eastern coast of the United States. The Potomac flows from Fairfax Stone in West Virginia, snakes between the | The '''Potomac River''' is a [[river]] located on the central eastern coast of the [[United States]]. The Potomac flows from Fairfax Stone in [[West Virginia]], snakes between the [[mountain]]s and through the [[valley]]s of [[Appalachia]] and empties into the [[Chesapeake Bay]] near [[Point Lookout]], [[Maryland]]. The river's length is reported as 270 to 380 miles long. <ref>http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm</ref><ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/potomac-river</ref> The river is navigable to [[ocean]] going vessels as far upstream as [[Washington DC]]. Many consider the Potomac one of the "one of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers on the East Coast". <ref>http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm</ref> | ||
The Potomac drains a watershed of | ==Watershed== | ||
The Potomac drains a [[watershed]] of 14,670 square miles in [[Virginia]], West Virginia, Maryland, the [[District of Columbia]] and [[Pennsylvania]]. Several famous and major rivers make-up this watershed. In Maryland, these [[tributaries]] include the [[Monocacy River|Monocacy]], [[Savage River|Savage]], and [[St. Mary's River]]s. In Virgina, the both forks of the [[Shenandoah River]] and the [[Occoquan River]] feed into the Potomac River system. In West Virginia, the South Branch and [[Cacapon River]]s flow into the Potomac, while in Pennsylvania the [[Conococheague Creek]] and [[Antietam Creek]] flow into the river. In Washington D.C., the [[Anacostia River]] empties into the Potomac. | |||
The | Today, more than five million people live in the Potomac watershed. The River is still hope to a wide variety of fish and wildlife. | ||
==Historical Significance== | |||
The Potomac River's waters have served as a natural resource and transportation route for more than ten thousand years. Long before [[Europeans]] colonized America, the Potomac supported [[Native Americans]] who relied on the river's natural abundance. In 1608, [[Captain John Smith]] of [[Jamestowne]] was among the first Europeans to ever visit the Potomac, sometimes referred to in those days as the Potowmack <ref>http://www.upress.virginia.edu/books/metcalf.html</ref>. The Potomac's [[crab]]s, [[oyster]]s and [[fish ]]were a major factor in the success of Tidewater colonies in Maryland and Virginia. Many important figures in American history such as [[George Washington]] and [[Robert E. Lee]] had homes and lived along the banks of the Potomac. [[Mount Vernon]], Washington's home, remains one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Potomac. Because the Potomac makes its way alongside America's Capitol, the history of the Potomac is tied the history of the nation. <ref>Waters of Potowmack by by Paul Metcalf University of Virginia Press ISBN 0-8139-2042-6 </ref> | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 15:21, 24 July 2007
The Potomac River is a river located on the central eastern coast of the United States. The Potomac flows from Fairfax Stone in West Virginia, snakes between the mountains and through the valleys of Appalachia and empties into the Chesapeake Bay near Point Lookout, Maryland. The river's length is reported as 270 to 380 miles long. [1][2] The river is navigable to ocean going vessels as far upstream as Washington DC. Many consider the Potomac one of the "one of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers on the East Coast". [3]
Watershed
The Potomac drains a watershed of 14,670 square miles in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. Several famous and major rivers make-up this watershed. In Maryland, these tributaries include the Monocacy, Savage, and St. Mary's Rivers. In Virgina, the both forks of the Shenandoah River and the Occoquan River feed into the Potomac River system. In West Virginia, the South Branch and Cacapon Rivers flow into the Potomac, while in Pennsylvania the Conococheague Creek and Antietam Creek flow into the river. In Washington D.C., the Anacostia River empties into the Potomac.
Today, more than five million people live in the Potomac watershed. The River is still hope to a wide variety of fish and wildlife.
Historical Significance
The Potomac River's waters have served as a natural resource and transportation route for more than ten thousand years. Long before Europeans colonized America, the Potomac supported Native Americans who relied on the river's natural abundance. In 1608, Captain John Smith of Jamestowne was among the first Europeans to ever visit the Potomac, sometimes referred to in those days as the Potowmack [4]. The Potomac's crabs, oysters and fish were a major factor in the success of Tidewater colonies in Maryland and Virginia. Many important figures in American history such as George Washington and Robert E. Lee had homes and lived along the banks of the Potomac. Mount Vernon, Washington's home, remains one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Potomac. Because the Potomac makes its way alongside America's Capitol, the history of the Potomac is tied the history of the nation. [5]
See Also
- Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basic Fact Sheet
- Map of the Potomac
- Civil War Era Map of the Potomac
References
- ↑ http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm
- ↑ http://www.answers.com/topic/potomac-river
- ↑ http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm
- ↑ http://www.upress.virginia.edu/books/metcalf.html
- ↑ Waters of Potowmack by by Paul Metcalf University of Virginia Press ISBN 0-8139-2042-6