Batten Kill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Batten Kill |
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Batten Kill and tributaries
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| Native name | Dionoondehowee |
| Other name(s) | Battenkill River |
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont, New York |
| County | Bennington, Washington |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | East Dorset, Vermont, Bennington County, Vermont, Green Mountains, Taghkanic Mountains 43°14′53″N 73°00′16″W / 43.24806°N 73.00444°W |
| River mouth | Hudson River Easton, New York 82 ft (25 m) 43°06′34″N 73°34′30″W / 43.10944°N 73.57500°W |
| Length | 59 mi (95 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 407 sq mi (1,050 km2) |
The Batten Kill is a beautiful river that starts in Vermont and flows into New York. It's about 59.4-mile-long (95.6 km)! The word "Kill" actually means "creek" in an old Dutch language. So, "Battenkill River" really means "Batten Creek River."
The river begins in East Dorset, Vermont. It then travels all the way to Easton, New York, where it joins the much larger Hudson River.
People love the Batten Kill for its amazing trout fishing. It's a popular spot for anglers! You can also find the famous Shushan Covered Bridge crossing the river. The main office for the Orvis Corporation, which sells fishing and outdoor gear, is also located along the river.
The Battenkill valley is also home to the Tour of the Battenkill. This is a very big road cycling race in North America. The Native Americans had their own names for the river, either Dionoondehowee or Ondawa.
Where the Batten Kill Flows
The Batten Kill starts its journey in East Dorset, Vermont. It flows south, and soon a smaller stream called Mad Tom Brook joins it. The river then turns southwest towards Arlington. After that, it heads west and crosses into New York State.
In New York, the river continues west. It forms a natural border between the towns of Jackson and Salem. When it reaches the small community of Shushan, it turns north. Then, at Greenwich Junction, it turns west again.
The Batten Kill then becomes the border between Jackson and the town of Greenwich. It passes through several small places like East Greenwich, Battenville, and Center Falls. Finally, it reaches the village of Greenwich. The river keeps going as the border between Greenwich and the town of Easton. It flows past Middle Falls before it finally meets the Hudson River. This meeting point is about one mile (1.6 km) north of Schuylerville.
The river's total length, following all its bends and turns, is about 59.4 miles (95.6 km). About 28 miles (45 km) of this length is in Vermont.
River Branches and Streams
The Batten Kill has many smaller streams and brooks that flow into it. These are called tributaries. They help make the river bigger and stronger. The land area that collects water for the Batten Kill is called its watershed.
The Vermont part of the Batten Kill watershed is very hilly and covered with thick forests. Many of the smaller streams there are also steep and narrow. This area gets a lot of rain, about 42.9 inches (1,090 mm) each year.
Some of the important streams that join the Batten Kill include:
- Mad Tom Brook
- Bourn Brook
- Lye Brook
- Mill Brook
- The Green River
- Camden Creek
- Black Creek
For example, Mad Tom Brook starts high up on Mount Tabor in Peru, Vermont. It flows for about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) before joining the Batten Kill. Another stream, The Green River, flows south from west of Manchester and joins the Batten Kill near West Arlington.
Historic Covered Bridges
The Batten Kill is famous for its old covered bridges. These are wooden bridges with roofs and sides, built to protect the bridge's wooden structure from the weather. Four covered bridges cross the Batten Kill, and three of them are still used today!
- West Arlington Bridge, Vermont (built in 1852)
- Eagleville Bridge, New York (built in 1858)
- Shushan Covered Bridge, New York (built in 1858) – This bridge is no longer used for cars. It's now a museum that opens during certain times of the year.
- Rexleigh Covered Bridge, New York (built in 1874)
These bridges are a cool part of the history and beauty of the Batten Kill area.
