South Branch Ashuelot River
Encyclopedia
The South Branch of the Ashuelot River is a 17.4 mile long (28.1 km) river
located in southwestern New Hampshire
in the United States
. It is a tributary
of the Ashuelot River
, itself a tributary of the Connecticut River
, which flows to Long Island Sound
.
The South Branch begins in the town of Troy, New Hampshire
, at the confluence of Rockwood Brook and Quarry Brook. The river flows in a zigzag manner northwest, then southwest, then north to the Ashuelot River in Swanzey
. On the river's northwest-flowing leg, it drops rapidly as it cuts a deep, narrow valley through the highlands of Troy and Marlborough
. New Hampshire Route 12
and an abandoned railroad line follow the river along this section. When the river turns southwest, the valley widens, except for a brief section where the river passes the village of East Swanzey
. The final, north-flowing leg of the river is through a broad, flat intervale, where the river makes numerous tight meander
s.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards 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. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
located in southwestern New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New 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 is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Ashuelot River
Ashuelot River
The Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
, itself a tributary of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, which flows to Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between 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. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
.
The South Branch begins in the town of Troy, New Hampshire
Troy, New Hampshire
Troy is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,145 at the 2010 census. It is situated at the base of Mount Monadnock....
, at the confluence of Rockwood Brook and Quarry Brook. The river flows in a zigzag manner northwest, then southwest, then north to the Ashuelot River in Swanzey
Swanzey, New Hampshire
Swanzey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,230 at the 2010 census. In addition to the town center, Swanzey includes the villages of East Swanzey, West Swanzey, North Swanzey, and Westport.-History:...
. On the river's northwest-flowing leg, it drops rapidly as it cuts a deep, narrow valley through the highlands of Troy and Marlborough
Marlborough, New Hampshire
Marlborough is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,063 at the 2010 census. The town is home to the Kensan-Devan Wildlife Sanctuary at Meetinghouse Pond....
. New Hampshire Route 12
New Hampshire Route 12
New Hampshire Route 12 is a north-south state highway running across the western portion of New Hampshire from the Massachusetts state line to the Vermont state line at the Connecticut River.-Route description:...
and an abandoned railroad line follow the river along this section. When the river turns southwest, the valley widens, except for a brief section where the river passes the village of East Swanzey
East Swanzey, New Hampshire
East Swanzey is an unincorporated village in the town of Swanzey in Cheshire County, New Hampshire.The village is located in the eastern portion of Swanzey, along the South Branch Ashuelot River, between New Hampshire Route 32 to the west and New Hampshire Route 12 to the northeast.East Swanzey has...
. The final, north-flowing leg of the river is through a broad, flat intervale, where the river makes numerous tight meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
s.