On Virginia’s eastern shore, the Potomac River is a famous waterway. With a maximum depth of 107 feet and passage through five separate states, it is home to sharks. Let’s continue to learn more amazing details about the Potomac River.
1. The River Starts in a West Virginia State Park
We must start at the beginning before delving too far. Where is the source of the Potomac River? The river starts in West Virginia’s Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park. It travels through mountains, meets other rivers, crosses over waterfalls, and eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay near Point Lookout in Maryland.
2. At the Deepest Point, the River Reaches Depths of 107 Feet
The Potomac River is 405 miles long and averages 24 feet deep. The Potomac River’s deepest point, however, is 107 feet below the surface. As spectacular as it may appear, the Hudson River, the deepest river in the United States, plunges a startling 216 feet below the surface.
3. The Potomac River is Over Two Million Years Old
The Potomac River as we know it now was created more than two million years ago as a result of erosion caused by the water cutting through the mountains. Because changing sea levels have an impact on water depth, the river contains both deep and shallow places.
4. The River Was Used by Troops and Slaves During the Civil War
You might be curious as to why the Potomac River is so well-known. Both American soldiers and slaves came into contact with the powerful river during the Civil War. However, one side perceived it as a difficulty and the other as a passageway.
While slaves traveling the Underground Railroad to freedom discovered the Potomac to be shallow enough to walk, ride, or pull a wagon through, Union and Confederate soldiers perceived the river as a barrier to cross on their approach to fight.
5. You Can Find Dolphins and Sharks in the Potomac River
The presence of dolphins in the Potomac River may surprise you. The Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project recorded more than 250 moms and over 300 calves between July 2015 and October 2018. Well, there are also sharks there! At the river’s mouth, bull sharks, smooth dogfish, sandbars, and sand tigers all congregate.
6. Celebrities Have Tested the River’s Waters
The Potomac River has been off-limits to swimmers since 1971. This is due to claims that it contains unhealthy levels of pollution and hazardous undercurrents. Residents quickly point out that other rivers with comparable degrees of cleanliness are swimmable.
Finally, the tides started to change in 2022. To placate the neighborhood, which has lobbied to repeal the decades-long restriction, the House enacted HR 7776. So, no, it remains illegal for you to swim in the Potomac River. Lorde, a musician, asserts that you can Just don’t let the police catch you.
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7. The Potomac River Supplies 6.11 Million People Within Its Watershed
The Potomac River: Why is it significant? The Potomac River, which spans approximately 15,000 square miles and serves 6.11 million people, is a truth. Today’s restoration and conservation initiatives are in place since the basin’s health directly affects the health of millions of locals.
8. The River Spans Across Five U.S. States
The Mississippi River, which passes through 10 states, is the nation’s longest river. The Potomac River, on the other hand, flows through five states: West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
9. There Are Many Ways to Cross the Potomac River
There are numerous bridge crossings over the Potomac, which is 383 miles long. among the most well-known or notable are the following:
- Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge
- American Legion Memorial Bridge
- Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge
- Arlington Memorial Bridge
- Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
- Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge
- Chain Bridge
- Aqueduct Bridge
- B&O Railroad Bridge
10. The Potomac is a Freshwater River
The Potomac is a freshwater river, but in the Potomac Estuary, it joins the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay, which are saltier than freshwater but not as salty as seawater. Because of this, you can witness sharks that can survive in low-salinity environments swimming in the Potomac.
Hope you like it. Stay tuned with us on Thegeofacts.com for more amazing updates.
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