Cedar Island, South Carolina facts for kids

Cedar Island is a special piece of land, a river island, located in the Santee River in South Carolina. It's quite large, about ten miles long and two miles wide. This island is unique because it splits the Santee River into two smaller rivers, called the North Santee and the South Santee. These two rivers then flow separately until they reach the Atlantic Ocean.

What is a River Island?

A river island is a piece of land completely surrounded by the water of a river. Think of it like an island in the ocean, but instead of saltwater, it's freshwater from a river flowing all around it. Cedar Island is a great example of this, sitting right in the middle of the Santee River.

Where is Cedar Island Located?

Cedar Island is found in the state of South Carolina, which is in the southeastern part of the United States. It's specifically within the Santee River, which is one of the major rivers in South Carolina. The island is about ten miles from where the Santee River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

How Does Cedar Island Split the River?

Cedar Island plays a big role in how the Santee River flows. As the river moves downstream, it hits the island and is forced to divide into two separate paths. These paths are called distributaries.

What are Distributaries?

A distributary is like the opposite of a tributary. A tributary is a smaller river that flows into a larger river. A distributary, however, is a stream or river that branches off and flows away from a main river. In the case of the Santee River, Cedar Island causes it to split into the North Santee and South Santee distributaries. These two new paths then continue their journey to the ocean.