Choptank River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Choptank River |
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The river in Denton, MD.
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Map of the rivers of the Eastern Shore of Maryland with the Choptank and its watershed highlighted.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland, Delaware |
| Cities | Cambridge, Denton, Harmony |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Choptank Mills Delaware |
| River mouth | Chesapeake Bay Algonquin, Maryland 0 ft (0 m) 38°36′14.9″N 76°04′53.6″W / 38.604139°N 76.081556°W |
| Length | 71 mi (114 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,004 sq mi (2,600 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The Choptank River is a very important river that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. It's the biggest river on the Delmarva Peninsula, which is a large piece of land shared by Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The river is about 71 miles (114 km) long.
It starts in Kent County, Delaware. Then it flows through Caroline County, Maryland. For much of its path, it forms the border between Talbot County to the north and Caroline County and Dorchester County to the east and south.
The Choptank River is located north of the Nanticoke River. Its mouth, where it meets the Chesapeake Bay, is south of Eastern Bay. Two important towns, Cambridge and Denton, are located on its south shore. Cambridge is the main town for Dorchester County, and Denton is the main town for Caroline County.
The land area that drains into the Choptank River in Maryland is about 1,004 square miles (2,600 km2). About 22% of this area is open water. Most of the land (48%) is used for farming. A large resort, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa & Marina, is located on the east side of the river in Cambridge. It was finished in 2002.
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Where Does the Choptank River Flow?
The Choptank River begins in Choptank Mills, Delaware. This is where two smaller streams, Tidy Island Creek and Culbreth Marsh Ditch, join together. Both of these streams start in western Kent County, Delaware.
The river then flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Its mouth is very wide and is found between Blackwalnut Point on Tilghman Island and Cook Point, near Hudson, Maryland. The entire area where the river flows is a flat, low-lying coastal plain.
The Choptank River reaches sea level near Denton, Maryland. The water doesn't become salty until about 2 miles (3.2 km) downstream from Denton. The town of Greensboro, Maryland, which is about 6 miles (9.7 km) upstream from Denton, is as far as boats can travel on the river.
Can Boats Travel on the Choptank River?
Yes, boats can travel on the Choptank River. The river is deep enough for boats up to Denton, which is about 45 miles (72 km) upstream from its mouth.
However, there's a bridge in Cambridge that limits how tall boats can be. Boats must be shorter than 50 feet (15 m) to pass under this bridge. The main path for boats at the river's mouth is marked by an old, leaning lighthouse. For boats coming from the north, a shortcut called Knapp’s Narrows can save time.
What Are the Choptank River's Tributaries?
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. The main tributaries of the Choptank River are the Tred Avon River and Tuckahoe Creek. Both of these join the Choptank from its north side.
On the south side, Cabin Creek and Hunting Creek are important tributaries. Many other smaller creeks also flow into the Choptank River. On the northern shore, these include Harris Creek, Broad Creek, Irish Creek, Island Creek, La Trappe Creek, Bolingbroke Creek, Mile Creek, Kings Creek, Forge Branch, and Broadway Branch. On the southern shore, you'll find Jenkins Creek, the Warwick River, Marsh Creek, Skeleton Creek, Mitchell Run, Hog Creek, Fowling Creek, Robins Creek, Church Creek, Williston Creek, Watts Creek, Chapel Branch, Spring Branch, Gravelly Branch, and Cow Marsh Creek.
The Choptank River in Books
The Choptank River is famous for being the setting of a well-known novel. The author James A. Michener wrote a book called Chesapeake in 1978. In this book, the river and the towns around it are part of the story, even though some of the towns are made up.
