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The Potomac River's waters have served as a natural resource and transportation route for more than ten thousand years. The Potomac flows from Fairfax Stone in West Virginia, snakes between the mountains and through the valleys of [[Appalachia]] and thence a total run of three hundred and eighty miles to the [[Chesapeake Bay]] near Point Lookout, Maryland. Many consider the Potomac one of the "one of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers on the East Coast". <ref>http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm</ref>  The Potomac drains a watershed of fourteen thousand six hundred seventy square miles of [[Virginia]], [[West Virginia]], [[Maryland]], the District of Columbia and [[Pennsylvania]]. Several famous and major rivers make-up this watershed.  In Maryland, these tributaries include the Monocacy, Savage, and St. Mary's Rivers. In Virgina, the both forks of the [[Shenandoah River]] and the Occoquan River feed into the Potomac River system. In West Virginia, the South Branch and [[Cacapon River]]s flow into the Potomac, while in Pennsylvania the Conococheague and Antietam Creeks flow into the river. In Washington D.C., the [[Anacostia River]] empties into the Potomac.
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The '''Potomac River''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: [pə'toʊmæk]) is a [[river]] located on the central eastern coast of the [[United States of America]]. The Potomac flows from Fairfax Stone in [[West Virginia (U.S. state)|West Virginia]], snakes between the [[mountain]]s and through the [[valley]]s of [[Appalachia]] and empties into the [[Chesapeake Bay]] near [[Point Lookout]], [[Maryland (U.S. state)|Maryland]]. The river's length is reported as 270 to 380 miles long.<ref>http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2014|title=Potomac River|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Potomac?q=Potomac+River|work=Oxford Dictionaries|publisher=Oxford University Press|accessdate=22 April 2014}}</ref> The river is navigable to [[ocean]] going vessels as far upstream as [[Washington DC]]. Many consider the Potomac one of the "one of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers on the East Coast". <ref>http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm</ref>   


The Potomac River has nurtured trade, cultures, migration, and living resources for more than 10,000 years. Captain John Smith visited the Potomac in 1608. He found fish "lying so thicke with their heads above water, (that) for want of nets, we attempted to catch them with a frying pan." The earliest Tidewater settlers in Maryland and Virginia existed primarily on huge supplies of Potomac crabs, oysters, and fish. The estuary was the lifeblood of many Native American and colonial cultures, and the Potomac was the major route for trade and commerce. Today, the Potomac watershed is home to more than 5 million people, and continues to support commercial fisheries and a variety of fish and wildlife in its estuary. The history of the Potomac River is linked to the historical events and growth that has taken place in its basin.
==Watershed==
The Potomac drains a [[watershed]] of 14,670 square miles in [[Virginia (U.S. state)|Virginia]], West Virginia, Maryland, the [[District of Columbia]] and [[Pennsylvania (U.S. state)|Pennsylvania]]. Several famous and major rivers make-up this watershed.  In Maryland, these [[tributaries]] include the [[Monocacy River|Monocacy]], [[Savage River|Savage]], and [[St. Mary's River]]s. In Virginia, the both forks of the [[Shenandoah River]] and the [[Occoquan River]] feed into the Potomac River system. In West Virginia, the South Branch and [[Cacapon River]]s flow into the Potomac, while in Pennsylvania the [[Conococheague Creek]] and [[Antietam Creek]] flow into the river. In Washington D.C., the [[Anacostia River]] empties into the Potomac.
 
==Modern geography==
In the downtown Washington area, four bridges (14th Street, Memorial, Theodore Roosevelt, Key), some with multiple parallel spans, are major commuter arteries between the District of Columbia and Virginia. There are also bridges for long-haul railroads and the Metro subway system. Two large bridges, Cabin John in the western suburbs and Woodrow Wilson in the east, connect Virginia and Maryland. Reagan National Airport is on the Virginia side.
 
Relatively few government buildings are actually on the Potomac, the [[Pentagon Building]] being a notable exception, along with some military facilities to the south.  
 
Today, more than five million people live in the Potomac watershed. The River is still home to a wide variety of fish and wildlife.
 
==Historical significance==
The Potomac River's waters have served as a natural resource and transportation route for more than ten thousand years.  Long before [[Europeans]] colonized America, the Potomac supported [[Native Americans]] who relied on the river's natural abundance. In 1608, [[Captain John Smith]] of [[Jamestowne]] was among the first Europeans to ever visit the Potomac, sometimes referred to in those days as the Potowmack <ref>http://www.upress.virginia.edu/books/metcalf.html</ref>. The Potomac's [[crab]]s, [[oyster]]s and [[fish]] were a major factor in the success of Tidewater colonies in Maryland and Virginia.  Many important figures in American history such as [[George Washington]] and [[Robert E. Lee]] had homes and lived along the banks of the Potomac. [[Mount Vernon]], Washington's home, remains one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Potomac. Because the Potomac makes its way alongside America's capital, the history of the Potomac is tied the history of the nation. <ref>Waters of Potowmack by by Paul Metcalf University of Virginia Press ISBN 0-8139-2042-6 </ref>
 
==References==
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The Potomac River (IPA: [pə'toʊmæk]) is a river located on the central eastern coast of the United States of America. The Potomac flows from Fairfax Stone in West Virginia, snakes between the mountains and through the valleys of Appalachia and empties into the Chesapeake Bay near Point Lookout, Maryland. The river's length is reported as 270 to 380 miles long.[1][2] The river is navigable to ocean going vessels as far upstream as Washington DC. Many consider the Potomac one of the "one of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers on the East Coast". [3]

Watershed

The Potomac drains a watershed of 14,670 square miles in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. Several famous and major rivers make-up this watershed. In Maryland, these tributaries include the Monocacy, Savage, and St. Mary's Rivers. In Virginia, the both forks of the Shenandoah River and the Occoquan River feed into the Potomac River system. In West Virginia, the South Branch and Cacapon Rivers flow into the Potomac, while in Pennsylvania the Conococheague Creek and Antietam Creek flow into the river. In Washington D.C., the Anacostia River empties into the Potomac.

Modern geography

In the downtown Washington area, four bridges (14th Street, Memorial, Theodore Roosevelt, Key), some with multiple parallel spans, are major commuter arteries between the District of Columbia and Virginia. There are also bridges for long-haul railroads and the Metro subway system. Two large bridges, Cabin John in the western suburbs and Woodrow Wilson in the east, connect Virginia and Maryland. Reagan National Airport is on the Virginia side.

Relatively few government buildings are actually on the Potomac, the Pentagon Building being a notable exception, along with some military facilities to the south.

Today, more than five million people live in the Potomac watershed. The River is still home to a wide variety of fish and wildlife.

Historical significance

The Potomac River's waters have served as a natural resource and transportation route for more than ten thousand years. Long before Europeans colonized America, the Potomac supported Native Americans who relied on the river's natural abundance. In 1608, Captain John Smith of Jamestowne was among the first Europeans to ever visit the Potomac, sometimes referred to in those days as the Potowmack [4]. The Potomac's crabs, oysters and fish were a major factor in the success of Tidewater colonies in Maryland and Virginia. Many important figures in American history such as George Washington and Robert E. Lee had homes and lived along the banks of the Potomac. Mount Vernon, Washington's home, remains one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Potomac. Because the Potomac makes its way alongside America's capital, the history of the Potomac is tied the history of the nation. [5]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm
  2. ↑ Potomac River. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press (2014). Retrieved on 22 April 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.upress.virginia.edu/books/metcalf.html
  5. ↑ Waters of Potowmack by by Paul Metcalf University of Virginia Press ISBN 0-8139-2042-6
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