Category:Geographic Features: Rivers and Streams

From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia

West Virginia rivers and streams are as various as the mountains from which they descend. Many are protected through the National Park System or are legendary in history and as recreational attractions. The New River and Gauley River, for instance, are among the world's best kayaking and whitewater rafting rivers. The Ohio River is protected as a national wildlife refuge that runs the length of the western part of the West Virginia.

River Transportation

The settlers in West Virginia early felt the need of improved river transportation. The first step was taken in 1785, when a portion of the Potomac River was cleared of rocks at Harpers Ferry. River transportation to Pittsburg began at a very early period, and in 1793 the Virginia Legislature passed the first act for cleaning and extending the Monongahela and West Fork rivers. The lumber trade was among the earliest vocations of the pioneers that settled along the state's navigable or "raftable" streams. The rafting or floating of logs downstream on larger rivers and creeks was practiced early on, but the floating of single logs or log rafts was also practical from a point 5-6 miles below the source of many smaller streams in West Virginia.

Articles in category "Geographic Features: Rivers and Streams"

There are 35 articles in this category.

B Big Sandy Creek Big Sandy River Birthplace of Rivers Bluestone River C Cheat River Clear Fork Coal River E Elk River G Gauley River Glade Creek Greenbrier River

G Guyandotte River J Jumping Branch K Kanawha River Keeney Creek L Little Bluestone River Little Kanawha River M Manns Creek Marsh Fork Meadow River Monongahela River N New River North Branch Potomac River

O Ohio River P Paint Creek Piney Creek Pipestem Creek Pocatalico River Potomac River R Rivers that Flow North S Shenandoah River South Branch Potomac River T Tug Fork River Tygart River W West Fork River