The
Connecticut River is the largest
riverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, a sea or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water...
in
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
, flowing south from the
Connecticut LakesThe Connecticut Lakes are a group of four lakes in northern New Hampshire, forming the beginning of the Connecticut River. All are technically contained within Pittsburg, New Hampshire, but are far from the town center. There are four lakes: First Connecticut Lake, Second, Third and Fourth...
in northern
New HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian province of...
, along the border between New Hampshire and
VermontThe State of Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd by land area, , and 45th by total area. It has a population of 621,270, making it the second least-populated state...
, through
western MassachusettsWestern Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley...
and central
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
into
Long Island SoundLong Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound...
at
Old Saybrook, ConnecticutOld Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,367 at the 2000 census. It contains the incorporated borough of Fenwick, as well as the census-designated places of Old Saybrook Center and Saybrook Manor.-History:...
. It has a total length of , and a drainage basin extending over . The mean freshwater discharge into
Long Island SoundLong Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound...
is per second. The river is tidal up to Windsor Locks, approximately from the mouth. The source of the Connecticut River is the
Fourth Connecticut LakeThe Fourth Connecticut Lake is the northernmost, smallest and most remote of the Connecticut Lakes in New Hampshire. It is the source of the Connecticut River. The Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail, which criss-crosses the international border between the United States and Canada, leads hikers to the...
in New Hampshire. Some tributaries include the
AshuelotThe Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately 64 mi long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of 425 sq mi , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
,
West-Rivers:Canada*West River , an Ontario river*West River in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia*West River in Pictou County, Nova Scotia*West River in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia...
, Miller's, Mill,
DeerfieldDeerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town. The river joins the Connecticut in...
, White, and Chicopee rivers. (The Swift River, a tributary of the Chicopee, has been largely replaced by the
Quabbin ReservoirThe Quabbin Reservoir is the largest body of water in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was built between 1930 and 1939. Today along with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, some 65 miles to the east, as well as 40 other communities in Greater Boston...
which
provides waterA water supply system or water supply network is a system of engineered hydrologic and hydraulic components which provide water supply. A water supply system typically includes:...
to
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
.)
The river carries a heavy amount of
siltSilt is soil or rock derived granular material of a grain size between sand and clay. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
, especially during the spring snow melt, from as far north as
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The heavy silt concentration of the river forms a large sandbar near its mouth on Long Island Sound and has historically provided a formidable obstacle to navigation. The difficulty of navigation on the river is the primary reason that it is one of the few large rivers in the region without a major city near its mouth. The Connecticut River estuary and tidal wetlands complex is listed as one of the 1,759 wetlands of international importance under the
Ramsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
on Wetlands.
Geological history
Early settlement
The river's name is the French corruption of the
AlgonquianThe Algonquian languages languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is itself...
word "quinetucket" and means
long tidal river. The first European to see the river was the
DutchDuring the 17th century, Dutch traders established trade posts and plantations throughout the asian collonies; actual colonization, with Dutch settling in the new lands was not as common as with settlements of other European nations...
explorer
Adriaen BlockAdriaen Block was a Dutch private trader and navigator who is best known for exploring the coastal and river valley areas between present-day New Jersey and Massachusetts during four voyages from 1611 to 1614, following the 1609 expedition by Henry Hudson...
in 1614. As a result of this exploration, the Dutch named the Connecticut River the "Fresh River", and it was the northeastern limits of the
New NetherlandNew Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the seventeenth-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
colony, and the original border between
New NetherlandNew Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the seventeenth-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
and
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
. The first
EnglishBritish colonization of the Americas began in the late 16th century and reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the Americas and a protectorate had been established over the Kingdom of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean...
colonist to record his visit was
Edward WinslowEdward Winslow was an American Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644....
from the
Plymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town of Plymouth, Massachusetts...
in 1632. In 1633 the English built a trading post on the site of
Windsor, ConnecticutWindsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
, and the Dutch built one with a fort at the site of
Hartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located in Hartford County on the Connecticut River, north of the center of the state, south of Springfield, Massachusetts. Its 2006 population of 124,512 ranks Hartford as the state's second-largest city, after Bridgeport. New...
. As the number of English colonists increased, the Dutch abandoned their enterprise in 1654. The
Fort at Number 4The Fort at Number 4 was the northernmost British settlement along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire until after the French and Indian War. Now known as Charlestown, it was more than from the nearest other British settlement at Fort Dummer. Construction began in 1740 by brothers Stephen,...
, now
Charlestown, New HampshireCharlestown is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,749 at the 2000 census. Charlestown includes the villages of North Charlestown, South Charlestown and Hemlock Center...
, was the northernmost English settlement on the river until the end of the
French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War, also known as the War of the Conquest or referred as part of the larger conflict known as the Seven Years' War, was a war fought in North America between 1754 and 1763...
in 1763. In the
Treaty of Paris (1783)The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ratified by the Congress of the Confederation on January 14, 1784 and by the King of Great Britain on April 9, 1784 , formally ended the American Revolutionary War between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America, which had...
, ending the
American Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
, the new border between New Hampshire and what was to become the
Province of CanadaThe Province of Canada or the United Province of Canada was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of 1837.The Province of...
was defined to include the "northwesternmost headwaters of the Connecticut" . Because there are several streams that could fit that description, a boundary dispute led to the short-lived Indian Stream Republic, which existed from 1832 to 1835.
At first the broad, fertile valley attracted agricultural colonies, but the volume and fall of the river contributed to the rise of manufacturing in the valley. The greatest single drop of is at
Holyoke, MassachusettsHolyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, on the banks of the Connecticut River. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was named after Elizur Holyoke, who explored the area in 1660...
. Other important centers include Windsor and Hartford in Connecticut,
Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the largest city on the Connecticut River and the county seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.In the 2000 census, the city population was 154,082. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts and fourth largest in New England...
, the largest city on the river,
Lebanon, New HampshireLebanon is a city in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 12,568 at the 2000 census. Lebanon is located in western New Hampshire, south of Hanover, near the Connecticut River...
, and Brattleboro, Vermont.
In 1829 the
Enfield Falls CanalEnfield Falls Canal is a canal that was built to circumvent the shallows at Enfield Falls on the Connecticut River. It is situated along the west side of the river, adjacent to the towns Suffield and Windsor Locks of Hartford County in the state of Connecticut, USA...
was opened to circumvent shallows on the Connecticut River. The locks built for this canal gave their name to the town of
Windsor Locks, ConnecticutWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,043 at the 2000 census.Situated on the Connecticut River, the town is named after a set of canal locks...
.
In the late 1800s the river was used for massive logging drives from the far north, particularly the Nullhegan River basin in
Essex County, VermontEssex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2000, the population was 6,459, making it the least-populous county in Vermont...
. These spring drives were stopped after 1915, when pleasure boat owners complained about the hazards to navigation.
The
Connecticut River Flood Control CompactAn interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states of the United States of America. Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution provides that "no state shall enter into an agreement or compact with another state" without the consent of Congress...
was established in 1953 in response to severe flooding. The agreement was ratified by the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
The
Connecticut River is the largest
riverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, a sea or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water...
in
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
, flowing south from the
Connecticut LakesThe Connecticut Lakes are a group of four lakes in northern New Hampshire, forming the beginning of the Connecticut River. All are technically contained within Pittsburg, New Hampshire, but are far from the town center. There are four lakes: First Connecticut Lake, Second, Third and Fourth...
in northern
New HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian province of...
, along the border between New Hampshire and
VermontThe State of Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd by land area, , and 45th by total area. It has a population of 621,270, making it the second least-populated state...
, through
western MassachusettsWestern Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley...
and central
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
into
Long Island SoundLong Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound...
at
Old Saybrook, ConnecticutOld Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,367 at the 2000 census. It contains the incorporated borough of Fenwick, as well as the census-designated places of Old Saybrook Center and Saybrook Manor.-History:...
. It has a total length of , and a drainage basin extending over . The mean freshwater discharge into
Long Island SoundLong Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound...
is per second. The river is tidal up to Windsor Locks, approximately from the mouth. The source of the Connecticut River is the
Fourth Connecticut LakeThe Fourth Connecticut Lake is the northernmost, smallest and most remote of the Connecticut Lakes in New Hampshire. It is the source of the Connecticut River. The Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail, which criss-crosses the international border between the United States and Canada, leads hikers to the...
in New Hampshire. Some tributaries include the
AshuelotThe Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately 64 mi long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of 425 sq mi , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
,
West-Rivers:Canada*West River , an Ontario river*West River in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia*West River in Pictou County, Nova Scotia*West River in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia...
, Miller's, Mill,
DeerfieldDeerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town. The river joins the Connecticut in...
, White, and Chicopee rivers. (The Swift River, a tributary of the Chicopee, has been largely replaced by the
Quabbin ReservoirThe Quabbin Reservoir is the largest body of water in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was built between 1930 and 1939. Today along with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, some 65 miles to the east, as well as 40 other communities in Greater Boston...
which
provides waterA water supply system or water supply network is a system of engineered hydrologic and hydraulic components which provide water supply. A water supply system typically includes:...
to
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
.)
The river carries a heavy amount of
siltSilt is soil or rock derived granular material of a grain size between sand and clay. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
, especially during the spring snow melt, from as far north as
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The heavy silt concentration of the river forms a large sandbar near its mouth on Long Island Sound and has historically provided a formidable obstacle to navigation. The difficulty of navigation on the river is the primary reason that it is one of the few large rivers in the region without a major city near its mouth. The Connecticut River estuary and tidal wetlands complex is listed as one of the 1,759 wetlands of international importance under the
Ramsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
on Wetlands.
Geological history
Early settlement
The river's name is the French corruption of the
AlgonquianThe Algonquian languages languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is itself...
word "quinetucket" and means
long tidal river. The first European to see the river was the
DutchDuring the 17th century, Dutch traders established trade posts and plantations throughout the asian collonies; actual colonization, with Dutch settling in the new lands was not as common as with settlements of other European nations...
explorer
Adriaen BlockAdriaen Block was a Dutch private trader and navigator who is best known for exploring the coastal and river valley areas between present-day New Jersey and Massachusetts during four voyages from 1611 to 1614, following the 1609 expedition by Henry Hudson...
in 1614. As a result of this exploration, the Dutch named the Connecticut River the "Fresh River", and it was the northeastern limits of the
New NetherlandNew Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the seventeenth-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
colony, and the original border between
New NetherlandNew Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the seventeenth-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
and
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
. The first
EnglishBritish colonization of the Americas began in the late 16th century and reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the Americas and a protectorate had been established over the Kingdom of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean...
colonist to record his visit was
Edward WinslowEdward Winslow was an American Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644....
from the
Plymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town of Plymouth, Massachusetts...
in 1632. In 1633 the English built a trading post on the site of
Windsor, ConnecticutWindsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
, and the Dutch built one with a fort at the site of
Hartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located in Hartford County on the Connecticut River, north of the center of the state, south of Springfield, Massachusetts. Its 2006 population of 124,512 ranks Hartford as the state's second-largest city, after Bridgeport. New...
. As the number of English colonists increased, the Dutch abandoned their enterprise in 1654. The
Fort at Number 4The Fort at Number 4 was the northernmost British settlement along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire until after the French and Indian War. Now known as Charlestown, it was more than from the nearest other British settlement at Fort Dummer. Construction began in 1740 by brothers Stephen,...
, now
Charlestown, New HampshireCharlestown is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,749 at the 2000 census. Charlestown includes the villages of North Charlestown, South Charlestown and Hemlock Center...
, was the northernmost English settlement on the river until the end of the
French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War, also known as the War of the Conquest or referred as part of the larger conflict known as the Seven Years' War, was a war fought in North America between 1754 and 1763...
in 1763. In the
Treaty of Paris (1783)The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ratified by the Congress of the Confederation on January 14, 1784 and by the King of Great Britain on April 9, 1784 , formally ended the American Revolutionary War between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America, which had...
, ending the
American Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
, the new border between New Hampshire and what was to become the
Province of CanadaThe Province of Canada or the United Province of Canada was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of 1837.The Province of...
was defined to include the "northwesternmost headwaters of the Connecticut" . Because there are several streams that could fit that description, a boundary dispute led to the short-lived Indian Stream Republic, which existed from 1832 to 1835.
At first the broad, fertile valley attracted agricultural colonies, but the volume and fall of the river contributed to the rise of manufacturing in the valley. The greatest single drop of is at
Holyoke, MassachusettsHolyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, on the banks of the Connecticut River. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was named after Elizur Holyoke, who explored the area in 1660...
. Other important centers include Windsor and Hartford in Connecticut,
Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the largest city on the Connecticut River and the county seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.In the 2000 census, the city population was 154,082. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts and fourth largest in New England...
, the largest city on the river,
Lebanon, New HampshireLebanon is a city in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 12,568 at the 2000 census. Lebanon is located in western New Hampshire, south of Hanover, near the Connecticut River...
, and Brattleboro, Vermont.
In 1829 the
Enfield Falls CanalEnfield Falls Canal is a canal that was built to circumvent the shallows at Enfield Falls on the Connecticut River. It is situated along the west side of the river, adjacent to the towns Suffield and Windsor Locks of Hartford County in the state of Connecticut, USA...
was opened to circumvent shallows on the Connecticut River. The locks built for this canal gave their name to the town of
Windsor Locks, ConnecticutWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,043 at the 2000 census.Situated on the Connecticut River, the town is named after a set of canal locks...
.
In the late 1800s the river was used for massive logging drives from the far north, particularly the Nullhegan River basin in
Essex County, VermontEssex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2000, the population was 6,459, making it the least-populous county in Vermont...
. These spring drives were stopped after 1915, when pleasure boat owners complained about the hazards to navigation.
The
Connecticut River Flood Control CompactAn interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states of the United States of America. Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution provides that "no state shall enter into an agreement or compact with another state" without the consent of Congress...
was established in 1953 in response to severe flooding. The agreement was ratified by the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
The
Connecticut River is the largest
riverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, a sea or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water...
in
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
, flowing south from the
Connecticut LakesThe Connecticut Lakes are a group of four lakes in northern New Hampshire, forming the beginning of the Connecticut River. All are technically contained within Pittsburg, New Hampshire, but are far from the town center. There are four lakes: First Connecticut Lake, Second, Third and Fourth...
in northern
New HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian province of...
, along the border between New Hampshire and
VermontThe State of Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd by land area, , and 45th by total area. It has a population of 621,270, making it the second least-populated state...
, through
western MassachusettsWestern Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley...
and central
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
into
Long Island SoundLong Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound...
at
Old Saybrook, ConnecticutOld Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,367 at the 2000 census. It contains the incorporated borough of Fenwick, as well as the census-designated places of Old Saybrook Center and Saybrook Manor.-History:...
. It has a total length of , and a drainage basin extending over . The mean freshwater discharge into
Long Island SoundLong Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound...
is per second. The river is tidal up to Windsor Locks, approximately from the mouth. The source of the Connecticut River is the
Fourth Connecticut LakeThe Fourth Connecticut Lake is the northernmost, smallest and most remote of the Connecticut Lakes in New Hampshire. It is the source of the Connecticut River. The Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail, which criss-crosses the international border between the United States and Canada, leads hikers to the...
in New Hampshire. Some tributaries include the
AshuelotThe Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately 64 mi long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of 425 sq mi , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
,
West-Rivers:Canada*West River , an Ontario river*West River in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia*West River in Pictou County, Nova Scotia*West River in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia...
, Miller's, Mill,
DeerfieldDeerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town. The river joins the Connecticut in...
, White, and Chicopee rivers. (The Swift River, a tributary of the Chicopee, has been largely replaced by the
Quabbin ReservoirThe Quabbin Reservoir is the largest body of water in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was built between 1930 and 1939. Today along with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, some 65 miles to the east, as well as 40 other communities in Greater Boston...
which
provides waterA water supply system or water supply network is a system of engineered hydrologic and hydraulic components which provide water supply. A water supply system typically includes:...
to
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
.)
The river carries a heavy amount of
siltSilt is soil or rock derived granular material of a grain size between sand and clay. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
, especially during the spring snow melt, from as far north as
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The heavy silt concentration of the river forms a large sandbar near its mouth on Long Island Sound and has historically provided a formidable obstacle to navigation. The difficulty of navigation on the river is the primary reason that it is one of the few large rivers in the region without a major city near its mouth. The Connecticut River estuary and tidal wetlands complex is listed as one of the 1,759 wetlands of international importance under the
Ramsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
on Wetlands.
Geological history
Early settlement
The river's name is the French corruption of the
AlgonquianThe Algonquian languages languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is itself...
word "quinetucket" and means
long tidal river. The first European to see the river was the
DutchDuring the 17th century, Dutch traders established trade posts and plantations throughout the asian collonies; actual colonization, with Dutch settling in the new lands was not as common as with settlements of other European nations...
explorer
Adriaen BlockAdriaen Block was a Dutch private trader and navigator who is best known for exploring the coastal and river valley areas between present-day New Jersey and Massachusetts during four voyages from 1611 to 1614, following the 1609 expedition by Henry Hudson...
in 1614. As a result of this exploration, the Dutch named the Connecticut River the "Fresh River", and it was the northeastern limits of the
New NetherlandNew Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the seventeenth-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
colony, and the original border between
New NetherlandNew Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the seventeenth-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
and
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
. The first
EnglishBritish colonization of the Americas began in the late 16th century and reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the Americas and a protectorate had been established over the Kingdom of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean...
colonist to record his visit was
Edward WinslowEdward Winslow was an American Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644....
from the
Plymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town of Plymouth, Massachusetts...
in 1632. In 1633 the English built a trading post on the site of
Windsor, ConnecticutWindsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
, and the Dutch built one with a fort at the site of
Hartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located in Hartford County on the Connecticut River, north of the center of the state, south of Springfield, Massachusetts. Its 2006 population of 124,512 ranks Hartford as the state's second-largest city, after Bridgeport. New...
. As the number of English colonists increased, the Dutch abandoned their enterprise in 1654. The
Fort at Number 4The Fort at Number 4 was the northernmost British settlement along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire until after the French and Indian War. Now known as Charlestown, it was more than from the nearest other British settlement at Fort Dummer. Construction began in 1740 by brothers Stephen,...
, now
Charlestown, New HampshireCharlestown is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,749 at the 2000 census. Charlestown includes the villages of North Charlestown, South Charlestown and Hemlock Center...
, was the northernmost English settlement on the river until the end of the
French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War, also known as the War of the Conquest or referred as part of the larger conflict known as the Seven Years' War, was a war fought in North America between 1754 and 1763...
in 1763. In the
Treaty of Paris (1783)The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ratified by the Congress of the Confederation on January 14, 1784 and by the King of Great Britain on April 9, 1784 , formally ended the American Revolutionary War between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America, which had...
, ending the
American Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
, the new border between New Hampshire and what was to become the
Province of CanadaThe Province of Canada or the United Province of Canada was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of 1837.The Province of...
was defined to include the "northwesternmost headwaters of the Connecticut" . Because there are several streams that could fit that description, a boundary dispute led to the short-lived Indian Stream Republic, which existed from 1832 to 1835.
At first the broad, fertile valley attracted agricultural colonies, but the volume and fall of the river contributed to the rise of manufacturing in the valley. The greatest single drop of is at
Holyoke, MassachusettsHolyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, on the banks of the Connecticut River. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was named after Elizur Holyoke, who explored the area in 1660...
. Other important centers include Windsor and Hartford in Connecticut,
Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the largest city on the Connecticut River and the county seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.In the 2000 census, the city population was 154,082. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts and fourth largest in New England...
, the largest city on the river,
Lebanon, New HampshireLebanon is a city in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 12,568 at the 2000 census. Lebanon is located in western New Hampshire, south of Hanover, near the Connecticut River...
, and Brattleboro, Vermont.
In 1829 the
Enfield Falls CanalEnfield Falls Canal is a canal that was built to circumvent the shallows at Enfield Falls on the Connecticut River. It is situated along the west side of the river, adjacent to the towns Suffield and Windsor Locks of Hartford County in the state of Connecticut, USA...
was opened to circumvent shallows on the Connecticut River. The locks built for this canal gave their name to the town of
Windsor Locks, ConnecticutWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,043 at the 2000 census.Situated on the Connecticut River, the town is named after a set of canal locks...
.
In the late 1800s the river was used for massive logging drives from the far north, particularly the Nullhegan River basin in
Essex County, VermontEssex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2000, the population was 6,459, making it the least-populous county in Vermont...
. These spring drives were stopped after 1915, when pleasure boat owners complained about the hazards to navigation.
The
Connecticut River Flood Control CompactAn interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states of the United States of America. Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution provides that "no state shall enter into an agreement or compact with another state" without the consent of Congress...
was established in 1953 in response to severe flooding. The agreement was ratified by the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Pollution
The Water Quality Act of 1965 has also had a major impact on controlling
water pollutionWater pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater. All water pollution affects organisms and plants that live in these water bodies and in almost all cases the effect is damaging either to individual species and populations but also to the natural...
in the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Since then, the river has been restored from Class D to Class B (fishable and swimable). It was designated as one of the
American Heritage RiversAmerican Heritage Rivers are designated bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency to receive special attention to further three objectives: natural resource and environmental protection, economic revitalization, and historic and cultural preservation.This initiative was created by...
in 1997. The towns along the lower end of the river have enacted a cap on further
developmentLand development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
along the banks, so that no buildings may be constructed except on existing foundations.
Boating
The mouth of the river up to
EssexEssex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,505 at the 2000 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.-The Great Attack:...
is thought to be the busiest stretch of waterway in Connecticut. Some local police departments and the state Environmental Conservation Police patrol the area a few times a week. Some towns keep boats available if needed.
Fish
The Connecticut River is a habitat to several species of anadromous fish, including the
American shadThe American shad or Atlantic shad, Alosa sapidissima, is a species of anadromous fish in family Clupeidae of order Clupeiformes. It is not closely related to the other North American shads...
,
American eelThe American eel, Anguilla rostrata, is a catadromous fish found on the eastern coast of North America. It has a snake-like body with a small sharp pointed head. It is brown on top and a tan-yellow color on the bottom. It has sharp pointed teeth but no pelvic fins...
,
striped bassThe striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York...
and the
sea lampreyThe sea lamprey is a parasitic lamprey found on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America, in the western Mediterranean Sea, and in the Great Lakes. It is brown or gray on its back and white or gray on the underside and can grow to be up to 90 cm long. Sea lampreys prey on a wide variety...
. The
United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe United States Fish and Wildlife Service is the unit of the U.S. Department of the Interior dedicated to the management and preservation of wildlife.Units within the FWS include:* National Wildlife Refuge System* * Federal Duck Stamp...
is undertaking an effort to repopulate the river with another species of migratory fish, the
Atlantic salmonAtlantic salmon, known scientifically as Salmo salar, is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
. For more than 200 years, Atlantic salmon have been extinct from the river due to
damA dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions...
ming. Several
fish ladderA fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
s and fish elevators have been built to allow fish to resume their natural migration upriver each spring.
Angling the Connecticut
The headwaters of the Connecticut River are at the northern tip of New Hampshire, near the
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
border. Much of the beginning of the river's course in the town of
PittsburgPittsburg is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 867 at the 2000 census. It is the northernmost town in New Hampshire and the largest town by area in the state, more than twice the size of the next largest town, Lincoln. U.S...
is occupied by the
Connecticut LakesThe Connecticut Lakes are a group of four lakes in northern New Hampshire, forming the beginning of the Connecticut River. All are technically contained within Pittsburg, New Hampshire, but are far from the town center. There are four lakes: First Connecticut Lake, Second, Third and Fourth...
, a chain of deep, cold water lakes that are home to
lake troutLake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
and
landlocked salmonAtlantic salmon, known scientifically as Salmo salar, is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
.
The river itself holds native
brook troutThe brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
,
rainbow troutThe rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America as well as much of the central, western, eastern, and especially the northern portions of the United States...
, large
brown troutThe brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
,
shadThe shads or river herrings comprise the genus Alosa, fish related to herring in the family Clupeidae. They are distinct from others in that family by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. The several species frequent different areas on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and in the...
,
smallmouth bassThe smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
,
striped bassThe striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York...
,
carpCarp is a common name for various species of an oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. Some consider all cyprinid fishes carp, and the family Cyprinidae itself is often known as the carp family...
,
catfishCatfish are a diverse group of hairey fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores , and even to a tiny...
,
American eelThe American eel, Anguilla rostrata, is a catadromous fish found on the eastern coast of North America. It has a snake-like body with a small sharp pointed head. It is brown on top and a tan-yellow color on the bottom. It has sharp pointed teeth but no pelvic fins...
, and several other species of game fish. Landlocked salmon make their way into the river during spring spawning runs of
bait fishBait fish are small fish caught for use as bait to attract large predatory fish, particularly game fish. Species used are typically those that are common and breed rapidly, making them easy to catch and in regular supply. Examples of marine bait fish are anchovies, halfbeaks such as ballyhoo, and...
and during their fall spawn. The river has fly-fishing-only regulations on of river. Most of the river from
Lake FrancisLake Francis is a reservoir on the Connecticut River in northern New Hampshire. The lake is located in Coos County, east of the village of Pittsburg and along the boundary between the towns of Pittsburg and Clarksville. The lake, impounded by Murphy Dam, covers nearly .The lake was mentioned as...
south is open to lure and bait as well. Two tail-water dams provide cold river water for miles downstream making summer fishing on the Connecticut River excellent.
Water quality testing project
There is now a website which provides
water qualityWater quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance can be assessed...
reports twice a week, indicating whether various portions of the river are safe for swimming, boating and fishing.
Tributaries
Listed from south to north by location of mouth:
- Black Hall River (CT)
- Falls River (CT)
- Eightmile River (CT)
- Deep River (CT)
- Salmon River
The Salmon River is formed at the confluence of the Blackledge and Jeremy rivers about one mile west of North Westchester, Connecticut. It runs for about 10 miles to Salmon Cove near Moodus where it flows into the Connecticut River....
(CT)
- Mattabesset River (CT)
- Hockanum River
The Hockanum River is a river in Connecticut. The Hockanum neighborhood in East Hartford is named after it.It rises in Ellington and Rockville, then flows through Vernon, Manchester, and East Hartford...
(CT)
- Park River
The Park River, sometimes called the Hog River, is a unique urban river that flows through, and under the City of Hartford Connecticut. It was diverted underground by the Army Corps Of Engineers in 1940...
(CT)
- Farmington River
The Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut and southwest Massachusetts. Its length is 81 miles via its longest branch, and its watershed covers 609 square miles . The river historically played an important role in small-scale manufacturing in towns alongside it, but it is...
(CT)
- Scantic River
The Scantic River is a river that flows through the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Its tributaries rise in the towns of Hampden, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow and Monson in Massachusetts, and in Stafford and Somers, Connecticut, forming the river in the town of Hampden, Massachusetts...
(CT)
- Westfield River
The Westfield River in Massachusetts flows through Westfield and empties into the Connecticut River at West Springfield, Massachusetts. It has a 497 sq. mi. drainage area consisting of several tributaries. These include the North Branch, the Middle Branch and the West Branch. The Swift River joins...
(MA)
- Mill River (Springfield, MA)
- Chicopee River
The Chicopee River originates in a small village of Palmer, Massachusetts called Three Rivers from the confluence of the Quaboag River, Ware River and Swift River and flows generally west through the town of Ludlow, Massachusetts, and by the northern fringes of the Indian Orchard section of...
(MA)
- Manhan River
The Manhan River is a river in western Massachusetts. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River.The river begins as an outlet of the Tighe Carmody Reservoir, Southampton, and flows first southwest, then northeasterly through the middle of Easthampton, Massachusetts to its confluence with the...
(MA)
- Mill River (Northampton, MA)
- Fort River (Hadley, MA)
- Mill River (Hatfield, MA)
- Mill River (Amherst, MA)
- Sawmill River (MA)
- Deerfield River
Deerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town. The river joins the Connecticut in...
(MA)
- Fall River (MA)
- Millers River
The Millers River is a river in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts, originating in Ashburnham, Massachusetts and Rindge, New Hampshire, joining the Connecticut River just downstream from Millers Falls, Massachusetts...
(MA)
- Ashuelot River
The Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately 64 mi long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of 425 sq mi , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
(NH)
- West River
The West River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, about 50 mi long, in southern Vermont in the United States. According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as "Wantastiquet" and as "Waters of the Lonely Way ."The West River rises in the Green...
(VT)
- Partridge Brook
Partridge Brook is a 7.5 mile long stream located in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
(NH)
- Cold River
The Cold River is a 22.6 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
(NH)
- Saxtons River
The Saxtons River is a river in the U.S. state of Vermont, a tributary of the Connecticut River.The Saxtons River rises to the east of Glebe Mountain, in the town of Windham. It continues on through the towns of Grafton and Rockingham, passing through the Rockingham village of Saxtons River...
(VT) |
|
Williams River The Williams River is a river, approximately long, in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River.The Williams River rises in the northern part of the town of Andover and flows east through a corner of Ludlow and into Chester, where it turns south...
(VT)
Black RiverThe Black River is a river in the U.S. state of Vermont, and a tributary of the Connecticut River. The watershed, or drainage basin, consists of some in southeastern Vermont, almost all of which lies in Windsor County.-Course:...
(VT)
Little Sugar RiverThe Little Sugar River is a 13.5 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound...
(NH)
Sugar RiverThe Sugar River is a 27.0 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
(NH)
Blow-me-down BrookBlow-me-down Brook is a 12.8 mile long stream located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
(NH)
Ottauquechee RiverThe Ottauquechee River is a river, about 40 mi long, in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
(VT)
Mascoma RiverThe Mascoma River is a 31.6 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound. The Mascoma comprises two sections which are split by Mascoma Lake in the communities of Enfield and Lebanon...
(NH)
White RiverThe White River is a river, approximately long, in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River.The White River rises at Skylight Pond south of Bread Loaf Mountain near the crest of the Green Mountains. The river flows east to the town of Granville, where it receives the...
(VT)
Mink BrookMink Brook is a 9.5 mile long stream in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound.Mink Brook lies entirely in the town of Hanover, New Hampshire...
(NH)
Ompompanoosuc RiverThe Ompompanoosuc River is a river, about 25 mi long, in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound...
(VT)
Waits RiverThe Waits River is a river, approximately 20 mi long, in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound...
(VT)
Oliverian BrookOliverian Brook is a 13.1 mile long river in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
(NH)
Wells RiverThe Wells River is a river, approximately long, in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River.The Wells River begins at the outlet of Ricker Pond at the southern boundary of Groton State Forest in the town of Groton. The river flows generally southeast through the...
(VT)
Ammonoosuc RiverThe Ammonoosuc River is a river, 55 mi long, in northwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound. "Ammonoosuc" is Abnaki for "small, narrow fishing place"....
(NH)
Stevens River (VT)
Passumpsic RiverThe Passumpsic River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, in Vermont. Though primarily a Caledonia County river, it is the only river to flow through all three counties of the Northeast Kingdom.-Course:...
(VT)
Johns River (NH)
Israel RiverThe Israel River is a river in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It arises in the township of Low and Burbank's Grant and runs 24 miles generally northwest along U.S. Highway 2, traversing the towns of Jefferson and Lancaster, before joining the Connecticut River...
(NH)
Upper Ammonoosuc RiverThe Upper Ammonoosuc River is a tributary of the Connecticut River that flows through northern New Hampshire in the United States. Despite its name, the river is not connected to the Ammonoosuc River of the White Mountains...
(NH)
Paul Stream (VT)
Nulhegan River (VT)
Simms StreamSimms Stream is a 10.4 mile long river in northern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows south to Long Island Sound, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean....
(NH)
Mohawk RiverThe Mohawk River is a 13.8 mile long river in northern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows south to Long Island Sound, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean....
(NH)
Halls StreamHalls Stream is a 25.2 mile long tributary of the Connecticut River. For most of its length, it forms the boundary between Canada and the United States, with the province of Quebec to its west and the state of New Hampshire to its east....
(VT)
Indian StreamIndian Stream is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately 19.1 miles long, in New Hampshire in the United States. It rises in the mountains of extreme northern New Hampshire, in Coos County near the U.S.-Canada border, where the Middle Branch of Indian Stream joins the West Branch...
(NH)
Perry StreamPerry Stream is an 18.6 mile long river in northern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows south to Long Island Sound, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean....
(NH) |
Crossings
The Connecticut River is a significant barrier to travel between western and eastern New England. Several major transportation corridors cross the river including
AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a blend of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union Station...
's
Northeast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States by ridership and service frequency. The route is fully electrified and serves a densely urbanized string of cities from Washington, D.C., in the south through Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, Newark, New...
,
Interstate 95Interstate 95, the main north-south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, runs in a general east-west compass direction for 111.57 miles in Connecticut from the Rhode Island state line to the the New York State line. I-95 Southbound from East Lyme to the New York State is part...
(
Connecticut TurnpikeThe Connecticut Turnpike, known now as the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike, is a freeway in Connecticut that runs from Greenwich to Killingly. It is signed as Interstate 95 from the New York state line at Greenwich to East Lyme, and then as Interstate 395 from East Lyme to Plainfield...
),
Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels U.S. Route 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, Washington, at 4th Avenue S. next to Safeco Field and Qwest Field, and its eastern terminus...
(
Massachusetts TurnpikeThe Massachusetts Turnpike is the easternmost 138-mile stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the western border of Massachusetts in West Stockbridge connecting with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway...
), and
Interstate 89Interstate 89 is an interstate highway in the New England region of the United States travelling between Concord, New Hampshire and Highgate Springs, Vermont. As with all odd-numbered primary interstates, I-89 is signed as a north-south highway...
. In addition,
Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north-south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
, whose route largely follows the river north-south, crosses it twice - once in Connecticut and once in Massachusetts.
See also
- Connecticut River Museum
The Connecticut River Museum is a U.S. educational and cultural institution based at Steamboat Dock in Essex, Connecticut that focuses on the marine environment and maritime heritage of the Connecticut River Valley....
in Essex, ConnecticutEssex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,505 at the 2000 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.-The Great Attack:...
- Lake Hitchcock
Lake Hitchcock was a glacial lake that formed approximately 15,000 years ago in the late Pleistocene epoch. After the Laurentide ice sheet retreated, glacial ice melt accumulated at the terminal moraine and blocked up the Connecticut River, creating the long, narrow lake...
, post-glacial predecessor to the Connecticut River
- Lake Connecticut
Glacial Lake Connecticut formed over what is now Long Island Sound and coastal Connecticut at the fore edge of the ice sheet of the Wisconsin glaciation, as the lobe of the Laurentide ice sheet began to retreat, some 18 to 20,000 yBP. It was dammed by the terminal moraine that now forms the spine...
, post-glacial predecessor to Lake Hitchcock
- History of Connecticut
Connecticut began as three distinct settlements, referred to at the time as 'Colonies' or 'Plantations'. These ventures gradually were finally combined under a single royal charter in 1662.-Colonies in Connecticut:...
- List of Connecticut rivers
- List of Massachusetts rivers
- List of New Hampshire rivers
- List of Vermont rivers
- The Great Attack - the burning of American ships on the Connecticut River at Essex in 1814
Additional reading
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External links