Amite River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amite River |
|
|---|---|
Amite River watershed
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi, Louisiana |
| Counties | Lincoln, Amite |
| Parishes | East Feliciana, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston |
| City | Denham Springs |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | West Fork Amite River Amite County, Mississippi 31°19′19″N 90°43′40″W / 31.32194°N 90.72778°W |
| 2nd source | East Fork Amite River Lincoln County, Mississippi 31°26′05″N 90°37′12″W / 31.43472°N 90.62000°W |
| River mouth | Lake Maurepas Livingston Parish, Louisiana 30°17′53″N 90°33′37″W / 30.29806°N 90.56028°W |
| Length | 117 mi (188 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
The Amite River is a river in the southern United States. It flows through parts of Mississippi and Louisiana. This river is about 117 miles (188 km) long. It's a tributary of Lake Maurepas. This means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger body of water.
The Amite River starts as two separate streams in southwestern Mississippi. These streams are called forks. They join together and the river then flows south. It passes by the large city area of Baton Rouge. Finally, it reaches Lake Maurepas in Louisiana.
The last 37 miles (60 km) of the river are navigable. This means boats can travel on this part of the river. Some of the Amite River's water is also sent to other waterways. These include the Petite Amite River and the Amite Diversion Canal. These also lead to the Blind River, which flows into Lake Maurepas too.
What's in a Name? The Amite River's Story
The name Amite has an interesting history. Some people think it comes from the Choctaw language. In Choctaw, himmita means "young." This suggests the river might have been called "Young River."
Others believe the name comes from the French word amitié. This word means "friendship." So, the river could also be named "Friendship River." Both ideas offer a cool look into the river's past!
Gallery
-
An excursion steamer on the Amite River, around 1895.
.jpg)
