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.[1]
The river flows west to 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.[1]
The run of the Alabama is highly meandering.[2] 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),[3] and by steamboat measurement, 420 miles (680 km).[4]
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[3] 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[3] – 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,[5] 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.[6]
Gallery
Claiborne Lock and Dam on the Alabama River, approximately 5 miles (8 km) upriver from Claiborne, Monroe County
Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River, approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of Selma
Millers Ferry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River in Wilcox County, approximately 9.5 miles (15.3 km) northwest of Camden
^ ab"Alabama River | river, United States | Britannica".
^. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
^ abcU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map March 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 27, 2011
^Berney, Saffold (2011). Handbook Of Alabama: A Complete Index To The State. Nabu Press. ISBN978-1-1792-5964-2.
^Willson, Marcius (1847). American History: Comprising Historical Sketches of the Indian Tribes: A Description of American Antiquities, with an Inquiry Into Their Origin and the Origin of the Indian Tribes; History of the United States, with Appendices Showing Its Connection with European History; History of the Present British Provinces; History of Mexico; and History of Texas, Brought Down to the Time of Its Admission Into the American Union. W.H. Moore & Company.
^Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District
alabama, river, state, alabama, formed, tallapoosa, coosa, rivers, which, unite, about, miles, north, montgomery, near, town, wetumpka, montgomery, 2004the, mobile, alabama, coosa, rivers, essentially, single, river, name, which, changes, confluences, major, t. 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 1 Alabama RiverThe Alabama River at Montgomery in 2004The Mobile Alabama and Coosa rivers are essentially a single river the name of which changes at the confluences of major tributaries LocationCountryUnited StatesPhysical characteristicsSource locationTallapoosa and Coosa rivers near Montgomery AlabamaMouth locationMobile RiverLength318 miles 512 km The river flows west to 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 1 Contents 1 Description 2 Lock and dams 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditThe run of the Alabama is highly meandering 2 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 3 and by steamboat measurement 420 miles 680 km 4 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 3 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 3 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 5 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 EditThe Alabama River has three lock and dams between Montgomery and the Mobile River The Robert F Henry Lock amp Dam is located at river mile 236 2 the Millers Ferry Lock amp Dam is located at river mile 133 0 and the Claiborne Lock amp Dam is located at river mile 72 5 6 Gallery Edit Claiborne Lock and Dam on the Alabama River approximately 5 miles 8 km upriver from Claiborne Monroe County Robert F Henry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River approximately 15 miles 24 km east of Selma Millers Ferry Lock and Dam on the Alabama River in Wilcox County approximately 9 5 miles 15 3 km northwest of Camden Alabama River in Dallas County looking upstream towards Selma The Alabama River in Lowndes County as seen from Benton Park in Benton Alabama The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma overlooking the Alabama River The Alabama River in Selma Alabama River at Riverfront Park in MontgomerySee also EditList of Alabama rivers Tallapoosa River Coosa River Mobile River South Atlantic Gulf Water Resource RegionReferences Edit a b Alabama River river United States Britannica CARIA Current Issues Navigation on the Alabama river Archived from the original on July 25 2011 Retrieved May 9 2010 a b c U S Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset high resolution flowline data The National Map Archived March 29 2012 at the Wayback Machine accessed April 27 2011 Berney Saffold 2011 Handbook Of Alabama A Complete Index To The State Nabu Press ISBN 978 1 1792 5964 2 Willson Marcius 1847 American History Comprising Historical Sketches of the Indian Tribes A Description of American Antiquities with an Inquiry Into Their Origin and the Origin of the Indian Tribes History of the United States with Appendices Showing Its Connection with European History History of the Present British Provinces History of Mexico and History of Texas Brought Down to the Time of Its Admission Into the American Union W H Moore amp Company Courtesy U S Army Corps of Engineers Mobile DistrictExternal links Edit Wikisource has the text of a 1921 Collier s Encyclopedia article about Alabama River Allrefer com Alabama a river of the state of Alabama The American Cyclopaedia 1879 Alabama A river formed by the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers New International Encyclopedia 1905 Coordinates 31 8 11 N 87 56 39 W 31 13639 N 87 94417 W 31 13639 87 94417 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alabama River amp oldid 1107300249, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
