What is the largest river system in Virginia?
| Rank | River | Length of river |
| 1 | Roanoke River | 660 km |
| 2 | James River | 560 km |
| 3 | New River | 510 km |
| 4 | Potomac River | 486 km |
What is the longest river in Virginia?
The 660 km Roanoke River is the longest river in the US state of Virginia. Potomac River is the fastest flowing river in the US. Virginia is situated in the southeastern part of the United States.
What are the major rivers and watersheds of Virginia?
Rivers and Watersheds of Virginia River Line Potomac River Rt. 301 Bridge Rappahannock River Rt. 360 Bridge Piankatank River/Dragon Run The 1st set of power lines immediately u ... York River System (including the Mattapo ... Rt. 33 Bridges 1 more rows ...
What are the top 10 bodies of water in Virginia?
1 Appomattox River 2 Banister River 3 Big Sandy River 4 Blackwater River 5 Chickahominy River 6 Clinch River 7 Elizabeth River 8 James River 9 Holston River 10 Lynnhaven River More items...
What direction do the rivers flow in Virginia?
A map of the hydrography of Virginia shows the rivers run in different directions. They do not all flow south, or "down the map." Rain falling in Southwest Virginia ends up flowing though Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia to the Ohio River, then down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.
What are the three major rivers in Virginia?
Roanoke River, James River, and New River are the three longest rivers in Virginia. The Potomac River flows into Chesapeake Bay and separates it from Maryland.
What are the five major rivers in Virginia?
Virginia is served by 9 major river systems: Potomac-Shenandoah, Rappahannock, York, James, Roanoke, Chowan, New, Tennessee, and Big Sandy. The area of land that collects the surface water that flows into the major river is called a drainage basin or watershed.
What are the 4 big rivers in Virginia?
Get out your Atlas and Gazetteer, and find where those 4 rivers run into the Chesapeake Bay. Almost all the rain that falls onto Virginia north of Interstate 64 drains into the Chesapeake Bay via the James, York, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers.
Which river drainage basin is the largest in Virginia?
The James River BasinThe James River Basin occupies the central portion of Virginia and covers 10,265 square miles or approximately 24 percent of the commonwealth's total land area. It is Virginia's largest river basin and is made up of the Upper, Middle, and Lower James River sub-basins as well as the Appomattox River sub-basin.
What is Virginia's largest lake?
John H. Kerr ReservoirVirginia's largest lake, John H. Kerr Reservoir / Buggs Island Lake includes more than 50,000 acres of fresh water and over 800 miles shoreline! Experience the lake from both Occoneechee State Park and Staunton River State Park.
How many major rivers does Virginia have?
Virginia has four major rivers and many smaller rivers. The four major rivers flow into the Chesapeake Bay.
What are the 5 major rivers that flow into the Chesapeake Bay?
Five substantial rivers feed the western half of the Bay: the Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James. The Potomac is the longest and has the largest watershed.
What is the biggest watershed in VA?
Watershed size, tributariesNameArea (sq. miles)Major TributariesPotomac - Shenandoah5,702Potomac River, S. Fork Shenandoah, N. Fork ShenandoahChesapeake Bay Coastal2,577Chesapeake Bay, PiankatankAtlantic Ocean Coastal580Chincoteague Bay, Hog Island BayRappahannock2,714Rappahannock River, Rapidan River, Hazel River10 more rows•Mar 29, 2021
What is Virginia known for?
Virginia is known for the Appalachian Trail, oysters, Presidential homes, the Arlington National Cemetery, Dirty Dancing, Wild Ponies, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the Brunswick Stew. Virginia is also famous for Shenandoah National Park and the numerous lakes it houses within its borders.
How large is the Potomac River?
Potomac RiverLength405 mi (652 km)Basin size14,700 sq mi (38,000 km2)Discharge• locationLittle Falls, near Washington, D.C. (non-tidal; water years: 1931–2018)54 more rows
What is the Potomac River known for?
The Potomac, noted for its beauty, is also rich in historical significance. Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, is on its banks below Washington, D.C. The river's name derives from “Patawomeck,” as it was recorded by the colonist John Smith in 1608; its origin and meaning are unknown.
Is the Potomac River in Maryland or Virginia?
Except for a small portion of its headwaters in West Virginia, the North Branch Potomac River is considered part of Maryland to the low water mark on the opposite bank. The South Branch Potomac River lies completely within the state of West Virginia except for its headwaters, which lie in Virginia.
What is the most scenic whitewater river in Virginia?
Recreation-(Segment of river in the proximity of Goshen Pass is noted to be the most exciting and most scenic whitewater river in Virginia. The rapids range from Class 3 to 5 and some drop 25 feet in less than 200 feet.)
What are some of the most scenic places in Virginia?
Some of these include Fort Lewis near Williamsville, old log cabins and log barns, paved road fords or underwater bridges.) Scenic-(The Bullpasture River is known as one of the most scenic tributaries in the James River Watershed and Bullpasture Gorge is noted as one of the most scenic in Virginia.)
How long is the mountain gorge?
Geologic-(Segment contains Mountain Gorge, 5 1/2 miles long with an average gradient of 50 feet per mile, and vertical walls of 1000 feet.) Cultural-(Segment is in proximity to the ruins of Mount Torrey Furnace which produced iron in the 1880's.) Cultural, Geologic.
What is the Cow and Bull Pasture River System?
Hydrologic- (The Cow and Bull Pasture River system is one of the largest unpolluted, unspoiled, and undisturbed river systems in the region.) Historic-(Segment includes numerous sites of historic significance.
What is South Fork's headwaters?
Recreation-(South Fork's headwaters are unique because it is one of the smallest canoeing streams in the area yet has the most significant rapid of any stream in the State-- 40+ foot drop in 400 yards-- and is rated as a Class 5 stream.) Recreational. Middle James-Buffalo.
Where does rain fall in Virginia?
Rain falling in Southwest Virginia ends up flowing though Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia to the Ohio River, then down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. When the clouds move just a little further to the north or east, the rainfall will run downhill in the other direction.
How has Virginia been shaped?
Virginia has been shaped by its rivers. Storms have carved away at the land since the continents and the atmosphere emerged, and the rivers have carried "Virginia" mountains to the oceans before the current mountains (or oceans) even existed. What we see today is a brief snapshop, in geologic time.
What river is Rt 33?
Rt. 33 Bridges. James River. A line connecting Hog Point on Hog Island (Surry County) and the downstream point of the mouth of College Creek (James City County). during the Civil War, Union forces carried pontoons to build temporary bridges across rivers in Virginia.
What river was flowing before the continents smashed into each other?
Virginia's rivers have been carrying sediments downstream, reshaping the surface of the state, for eons. The New River was flowing even before the continents smashed into each other 300 million years ago, before "thundering lizards" left their dinosaur tracks in the sandstones of Triassic Basins.
Why is the New River unique?
The New River is unique because it continued to flow through its old channel, and cut through the Appalachian Mountains as they rose. The current New River Gorge in West Virginia is just the most recent demonstration of how the energy in the New River's falling water can defeat the strength of rising rock...
Where does water seep into?
Water in the ground seeps into the drainages. Sometimes the water emerges in a defined location called a spring; sometimes to seeps in less obvious ways into streams and rivers. A river will run even during a drought, as groundwater from previous rains seeps through the soil to the low spots.
Where is the largest estuary in the Western Hemisphere?
Much of the largest estuary in the Western Hemisphere is located in Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay is the drowned mouth of the Susquehanna and James rivers. Both rivers once ran separately to the Atlantic Ocean, before sea level rose after the last glacial period and formed the modern bay about 3,000 years ago.
What is the James River?
The James River is the twelve longest river in the United States, located in one state. It plays an important role for Virginia, since the capital Richmond is located directly on the banks of the Jackson River and it serves as a waterway for industry. Rappahanock River. The Rappahanock River of the same name originates in Rappahanock County, ...
What are the two lakes in Virginia?
Mountain Lake#N#The state of Virginia has only two natural freshwater lakes – Lake Drummond and Mountain Lake, which is located in western Giles County. Mountain Lake is approximately 1200 m high above sea level, is approximately 0.2 km² in size and almost five meters deep, although it can grow up to 35 m in high water and in the dry season there is no water at all. Mountain Lake became famous for the romantic dance film Dirty Dancing, which was filmed there in 1987. There is only one hotel on the lake, which is partially similar to the one from the film.
Where is Mount Rogers in Virginia?
It is located in Grayson and Smyth County approximately 6 miles from the city of Troutdale. Its summit can be easily reached via hiking trails through the Grayson Highlands State Park. You have to walk about 5.6 km to climb the top of Mount Rogers. It is well worth the effort, however, as there is a breathtaking view of the Jefferson National Forest from above.
What is the water flow in Virginia?
Water flows in channels carved into the surface of the earth. That water is supplied by surface runoff during storms and, between storms, groundwater is added to the flow where the channels intersect the water table. Those channels are known in Virginia as creeks, runs, prongs, branches, streams, and rivers, but there is no clear distinction ...
What are the channels of water in Virginia?
Those channels are known in Virginia as creeks, runs, prongs, branches, streams, and rivers, but there is no clear distinction between the categories. The largest channels of flowing water typically are called rivers, but some (especially near the upper edge of watersheds) may have less water flowing in them than other channels known as creeks.
What is the headwaters of the Po River?
the headwaters of the Po River is the confluence of a "prong" and a "run". Source: US Geological Survey (USGS), Streamer and ESRI, ArcGIS Online. Byers Branch flows into Naked Creek, which flows into one of several streams in Virginia called North River. ESRI, ArcGIS Online. In Tidewater Virginia, though the names of watercourses may vary ...
What are the requirements for a river?
Virginia has three things that are required to create a river: 1 bedrock and soil that absorbs only a limited amount of water 2 a surplus of rainfall, exceeding what can be absorbed into the ground 3 topography that causes water to run off, rather that sit in one place as a lake
Where is the South Anna River?
the South Anna River is labelled a river starting at its headwaters two miles northwest of Gordonsville. Source: US Geological Survey (USGS), Streamer and ESRI, ArcGIS Online. The distinction between river vs. stream is just a matter of history and common useage.
What is a buffer in the Chesapeake Bay?
In the Tidewater counties, the Chesapeake Bay regulations designed to "Save the Bay" often require a 100-foot wide buffer of undisturbed vegetation along perennial streams, where water flows on the surface consistently (except during major droughts). Those buffers are known as Resource Preservation Areas (RPA's).
14. Brazos River- 840 miles
The Brazos River only flows through Texas, and it flows across a very large portion of the state. The river starts in the north-central portion of the state and flows to the Gulf of Mexico by Freeport. Although Brazos River is known for being an important recreational area, the fact remains that the water quality is troublesome.
12. Canadian River- 906 miles
The Canadian River is nowhere near Canada. It flows through Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Due to its remote nature, sometimes shallow depth, and somewhat low discharge rate, the river doesn’t get many visitors. The Canadian River’s mouth is the Arkansas River, which it joins and continues to flow.
11. Tennessee River- 935 miles
The more aptly named Tennessee River is a large body of water that flows through Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. It snakes through the western portion of its namesake state, dips into the south, and then comes up the eastern part of the state. The river has many cities on its banks, and it is famous for being dammed several times.
10. Ohio River- 981 miles
The Ohio River is a very large river that flows into Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana along with its nearly 1,000-mile flow. The river has been used for transport and as a state boundary in the past. It is home to many large cities including Louisville, Kentucky, and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
9. Snake River- 1,040 miles
The Snake River has been home to Native Americans for over 10,000 years, and it was one of the areas explored during the Lewis and Clark expedition. The name stems from misinterpreted sign language that was supposed to mean basket weaving, but it was interpreted as “snake”.
8. Columbia River- 1,243 miles
The Columbia River flows through Oregon and Washington in the United States. However, it also flows into British Columbia in Canada. The river’s mouth is in the Pacific Ocean. The river is famous for having the largest river discharge into the Pacific in North or South America. The discharge amount is 265,000 cubic feet per second, a vast amount.
7. Red River- 1,360 miles
Although it’s sometimes called the Red River of the South, the name comes from the reddish color of the water. The Red River flows through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Unlike most other rivers in the U.S., this river is saline. The river’s mouth is in the Atchafalaya River where it continues to flow into the Gulf of Mexico.
