Potomac River

The Potomac is a big river.

It flows from West Virginia to the sea.

The river flows by Washington, D.C.

This is where the nation's capital sits.

Many people live near the water. Over 6 million people live in its area.

Long ago, Native Americans lived here. They called the river the "river of swans."

The river is very old. It is a special place to visit.

The Potomac River is a large river in the United States.

It flows through the Mid-Atlantic region. The river starts in West Virginia. It flows all the way to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

It is the fourth-largest river on the East Coast. More than 6 million people live near its water.

The river flows by Washington, D.C. This is the nation's capital. It also flows by Mount Vernon. This was the home of George Washington.

Long ago, Native Americans lived here. They had different names for the river. One name meant "river of swans." Captain John Smith made a map of the river in 1608. The name "Potomac" became official in 1931. The river is very old. It is at least 3.5 million years old. Some say it is much older. The river has many branches. The North Branch flows through Maryland and West Virginia. The South Branch flows through Virginia and West Virginia. These branches meet to form the main river.

The Potomac River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

It is the fourth-largest river along the East Coast. More than 6 million people live within its large watershed. The river flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia all the way to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

It acts as a natural border between several places. It separates Maryland from Washington, D.C. on one side. It also forms the border between West Virginia and Virginia on the other side.

The river begins with two main branches that eventually meet.

The North Branch starts at the Fairfax Stone in West Virginia. It flows through the Allegheny Mountains and past towns like Cumberland, Maryland. The South Branch starts near Hightown in Virginia. It winds through the Monongahela National Forest and the Smoke Hole Canyon. These two branches join together just east of Green Spring, West Virginia. From that point, the main Potomac River flows toward the coast.

It travels through many different types of land and geological provinces.

People have lived near this river for a very long time.

Native Americans lived in the area long before European explorers arrived. The name "Potomac" comes from the Patawomeck village name. Native groups had different names for different parts of the water. One name for the river below the Great Falls meant "river of swans." In 1608, Captain John Smith explored the area and drew a map.

The name we use today was officially chosen in 1931.

The river is very important to the history of the United States.

The nation's capital, Washington, D.C., sits right on its banks. Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is also located here. During the American Civil War, the river was a boundary between two sides. One large army was even named the Army of the Potomac. Today, parts of the river are protected for people to enjoy. In 2006, parts were named a National Recreation Trail. In 2019, a section became a National Marine Sanctuary.

As the river moves toward the sea, it changes in many ways.

Near the coast, the river becomes tidal. This means the ocean's tides move the water in and out. The river gets wider as it reaches the Chesapeake Bay. At its mouth, it can be 11 miles wide.

You can see many bridges crossing the water, like the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The river is a vital part of the landscape for many states.

The Potomac River is a major waterway in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

It is the fourth-largest river along the East Coast. The river drains a massive area known as a watershed. More than 6 million people live within this watershed. The river serves as a natural border for several locations. It separates Maryland from Washington, D.C. on the left descending bank. It also forms the border between West Virginia and Virginia on the right descending bank.

The river begins at two distinct sources. The North Branch starts at the Fairfax Stone in West Virginia. This location sits at the junction of Grant, Tucker, and Preston counties. The North Branch flows to Jennings Randolph Lake, which is a man-made impoundment. This lake helps with flood control and emergency water supply. The South Branch starts near Hightown in Highland County, Virginia. It begins on the eastern side of Lantz Mountain. This mountain stands 3,934 feet tall. The two branches eventually meet just east of Green Spring, West Virginia.

As the water flows, it moves through five different geological provinces. These are specific types of land formations. The river travels through the Appalachian Plateau and the Ridge and Valley. It also passes through the Blue Ridge and the Piedmont Plateau. Finally, it reaches the Atlantic coastal plain. The river has a stream gradient of 0.14%. This means the water drops 930 meters over a distance of 652 kilometers. At Little Falls, the river reaches the Atlantic Seaboard fall line. This is where the river drops from the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain.

Below the fall line, the river becomes a tidal river. This means the tides of the ocean influence the water. This tidal section is 108 miles long. It stretches from the Washington, D.C. area to the Chesapeake Bay. In this estuary, the water becomes more salty as it moves downstream. The river also grows much wider in this section. At its mouth, the river can reach 11 statute miles in width. This mouth sits between Point Lookout, Maryland, and Smith Point, Virginia.

Human history is deeply tied to these waters. Native Americans lived along the banks for a very long time. The name "Potomac" is a European spelling of Patawomeck. This was the name of an Algonquian village on the southern bank. Native groups had different names for various parts of the river. They called the area above Great Falls "Cohongarooton," meaning "honking geese." Below the falls, they called it "Patawomke," meaning "river of swans." Captain John Smith explored the river in 1608.

The river also played a major role in American politics and war. Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, is located on its banks. Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is also located here. During the American Civil War, the river was a boundary. It separated the Union from the Confederacy. The Union's largest army was even named the Army of the Potomac. Today, the river is a place for recreation. In 2006, parts were named a National Recreation Trail. In 2019, a portion became the Mallows Bay–Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary.

The Potomac is part of a much larger environmental system. It connects the mountains of West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay. Many different streams and rivers flow into it. The Shenandoah River is one major tributary. Many smaller creeks also join the river as it flows toward the sea. This complex network of water supports many different species. Protecting the river helps protect the entire region.