Potomac River
The catchment area of the Potomac comprises four states and Washington, DC
Great Falls of the Potomac River in winter
The Potomac [ pətoʊmək ] is a river in the eastern U.S., which flows from its source in West Virginia after about 616 km in the Chesapeake Bay.
Its two source rivers, North Branch Potomac River and South Branch Potomac River, unite about 15 km southeast of Cumberland on the border between Maryland and West Virginia. The river forms in its course parts of the natural boundaries between Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Before it empties into the Chesapeake Bay, the river reaches a width of five to seven miles.
During the Civil War the watercourse was due to the frequently changing front course an important role in the operations of both armies to. The largest army of the Union was given the name Potomac Army due to their area of application.
After the Potomac, the asteroid ( 1345 ) is named Potomac, which was discovered in 1908 by JH Metcalf.
Potomac also referred to a strain of the mighty Powhatan Federation, which has succeeded in about 30 to 40 Algonquian tribes merge.
In addition, Potomac is the name of a village located on the Potomac River in Montgomery County, about 20 miles from Washington, DC removed. At the village of Potomac are the great waterfalls of the Potomac River.
Hydrology
The United States Geological Survey operates in Washington, DC a level. Where the annual average river discharge is 316 m³ / s The highest ever measured value was 3944 m³ / s, the lowest was observed s on 17 February 2008 with 1.9 m³ /.
The Potomac at Sterling, Virginia
Evening on the Potomac
Map of the catchment area of the river