- Source: Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about 6 miles (10 km) north of Montgomery, near the town of Wetumpka.
Over a course of approximately 319 miles (513 km), the river meanders west towards Selma, then southwest until, about 45 miles (72 km) from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into Mobile Bay.
Description
The run of the Alabama is highly meandering. Its width varies from 50 to 200 yards (46 to 183 m), and its depth from 3 to 40 feet (1 to 12 m). Its length as measured by the United States Geological Survey is 318.5 miles (512.6 km), and by steamboat measurement, 420 miles (680 km).
The river crosses the richest agricultural and timber districts of the state. Railways connect it with the mineral regions of north-central Alabama.
After the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, the principal tributary of the Alabama is the Cahaba River, which is about 194 miles (312 km) long and joins the Alabama River about 10 miles (16 km) below Selma. The Alabama River's main tributary, the Coosa River, crosses the mineral region of Alabama and is navigable for light-draft boats from Rome, Georgia, to about 117 miles (188 km) above Wetumpka (about 102 miles (164 km) below Rome and 26 miles (42 km) below Greensport), and from Wetumpka to its junction with the Tallapoosa. The channel of the river has been considerably improved by the federal government.
The navigation of the Tallapoosa River – which has its source in Paulding County, Georgia, and is about 265 miles (426 km) long – is prevented by shoals and a 60-foot (18 m) fall at Tallassee, a few miles north of its junction with the Coosa. The Alabama is navigable throughout the year.
The river played an important role in the growth of the economy in the region during the 19th century as a source of transportation of goods, which included slaves. The river is still used for transportation of farming produce; however, it is not as important as it once was due to the construction of roads and railways.
Documented by Europeans first in 1701, the Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers were central to the homeland of the Creek Indians before their removal by United States forces to the Indian Territory in the 1830s.
Lock and dams
The Alabama River has three lock and dams between Montgomery and the Mobile River. The Robert F. Henry Lock & Dam is located at river mile 236.2, the Millers Ferry Lock & Dam is located at river mile 133.0, and the Claiborne Lock & Dam is located at river mile 72.5. These dams create R.E. "Bob" Woodruff Lake, William Dannely Reservoir, and Claiborne Lake respectively.
Gallery
See also
List of Alabama rivers
Tallapoosa River
Coosa River
Mobile River
South Atlantic-Gulf Water Resource Region
References
External links
Allrefer.com
"Alabama, a river of the state of Alabama" . The American Cyclopædia. 1879.
"Alabama. A river formed by the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- River Falls, Alabama
- Cahaba, Alabama
- Alabama
- County Blount, Alabama
- County Autauga, Alabama
- County Clarke, Alabama
- Daftar tempat di Alabama/M-Z
- County Talladega, Alabama
- County Russell, Alabama
- County Chambers, Alabama
- Alabama River
- List of rivers of Alabama
- Dog River (Alabama)
- Flint River (Alabama)
- Alabama
- Coosa River
- Mobile River
- Montgomery, Alabama
- River Falls, Alabama
- Geography of Alabama
