Union River (Maine)
Encyclopedia
The Union River is a 21.9 miles (35.2 km) river
that runs through Ellsworth, Maine
. In the colonial era, it was known as the Mount Desert River.
The river forms at the north end of Graham Lake
at the confluence
of the river's East
and West
branches (44.7300°N 68.3844 °W), on the border of the towns of Mariaville
and Waltham
. It runs south 13 miles (20.9 km) through Graham Lake to the dam at the lake's outlet, then continues south through Ellsworth, flowing through Leonard Lake and passing over its outlet dam just above the downtown. The Leonard Lake dam no longer serves any hydroelectric purpose but is kept in place to maintain the lake, upon which many camps have been built. At downtown Ellsworth, the river reaches tidewater, and flows south as an estuary
for 5 miles (8 km) to its mouth at Union River Bay, on the border of Surry
and Ellsworth
, and thence into Blue Hill Bay.
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...
that runs through Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine's fastest growing city from 2000-2010 with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent...
. In the colonial era, it was known as the Mount Desert River.
The river forms at the north end of Graham Lake
Graham Lake (Maine)
Graham Lake in Hancock County, Maine is a eutrophic reservoir formed by the construction of a hydro-electric power dam in 1922 four miles upstream from Ellsworth, Maine. The first dam was a hastily built earthen dam built by the Bangor Hydro Electric Company. It failed in 1923, flooding downtown...
at the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the river's East
East Branch Union River
The East Branch Union River is a river in Hancock County, Maine. From the outflow of Rocky Pond in Maine Township 22 M D, the river runs southwest to Spectacle Pond in Osborn. From the pond's outlet, the river runs northwest, southwest, west and southwest to Graham Lake, where it joins the...
and West
West Branch Union River
The West Branch Union River is a river in Hancock County, Maine. From the outflow of Great Pond in the town of Great Pond , the river runs southwest and south to Graham Lake, where it joins the East Branch in Mariaville to form the Union River.-References:**...
branches (44.7300°N 68.3844 °W), on the border of the towns of Mariaville
Mariaville, Maine
Mariaville is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The town was named for Maria Matilda, daughter of landholder William Bingham. The population was 414 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and Waltham
Waltham, Maine
Waltham is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. It runs south 13 miles (20.9 km) through Graham Lake to the dam at the lake's outlet, then continues south through Ellsworth, flowing through Leonard Lake and passing over its outlet dam just above the downtown. The Leonard Lake dam no longer serves any hydroelectric purpose but is kept in place to maintain the lake, upon which many camps have been built. At downtown Ellsworth, the river reaches tidewater, and flows south as an estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
for 5 miles (8 km) to its mouth at Union River Bay, on the border of Surry
Surry, Maine
Surry is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,361 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
and Ellsworth
Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine's fastest growing city from 2000-2010 with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent...
, and thence into Blue Hill Bay.