Broadkill River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broadkill River |
|
|---|---|
The Broadkill River in Milton in 2006
|
|
 
Location of the mouth of the Broadkill River
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Delaware |
| County | Sussex |
| City | Milton |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Wagamons Pond Milton 38°46′37″N 75°18′47″W / 38.77694°N 75.31306°W |
| River mouth | Delaware Bay northwest of Lewes 3 ft (0.91 m) 38°47′25″N 75°09′44″W / 38.79028°N 75.16222°W |
| Length | 13.3 mi (21.4 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 110 sq mi (280 km2) |
| Tributaries |
|
The Broadkill River is a river in southern Delaware, United States. It flows into Delaware Bay. The river is about 13.3 miles (21.4 km) long. It helps drain an area of 110 square miles (280 km2) on the Atlantic coastal plain. This area is a flat region near the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
Where the River Flows
The Broadkill River flows entirely within eastern Sussex County. It starts from a place called Wagamons Pond in the town of Milton. Two smaller streams, Ingram Branch and Pemberton Branch, feed into this pond.
Journey to the Bay
From Milton, the Broadkill River generally flows towards the east. As it moves, it passes through different types of land. These include wetlands and salt marshes. These areas are part of the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is a protected area for wildlife.
The river gets very close to Delaware Bay. It then flows alongside the shoreline for about 2 miles (3.2 km). Finally, it empties into the bay. This spot is about 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Lewes. The United States Coast Guard has a station near where the river meets the bay.
Connecting Waterways
The mouth of the Broadkill River is connected to Rehoboth Bay. This connection is made by the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. This canal is an important part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway is like a highway for boats along the coast.
History and Activities
In the 1800s, the Broadkill River was a busy place. It was a center for building ships. This was because the river gave easy access to forests inland. These forests provided wood for building boats. However, this industry started to slow down in the 1890s.
Things to Do and See
Today, there are still interesting things to do along the Broadkill River.
- A walking path called the Governors Walk follows the river in central Milton.
- In 1998, The Nature Conservancy created a special preserve along the river. This preserve is located downstream from Milton.
- As of As of 2005[update], people held an annual canoe and kayak race on the river in Milton. This shows how the river is used for fun activities.
