Dead River (Androscoggin River tributary) facts for kids

The Dead River is a special river in western Maine, United States. It's a "tributary," which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. The Dead River flows into the Androscoggin River.

This river starts from Androscoggin Lake. From there, it travels northwest through the town of Leeds for about 7 miles (11 km) until it reaches the Androscoggin River. The Dead River is the natural way for water to flow out of a series of ponds, with Androscoggin Pond being the biggest one.

A River That Flows Both Ways

What makes the Dead River really interesting is its unusual ability to flow in two directions! Most rivers only flow one way, from higher ground to lower ground.

How It Works

Normally, the Dead River flows out of Androscoggin Lake and towards the Androscoggin River. But sometimes, when the Androscoggin River gets very full, its water level rises a lot. When this happens, the strong flow of the Androscoggin River can actually push the water of the Dead River backward.

Back to the Lake

This means the Dead River's current can reverse and flow back into Androscoggin Lake! This can happen for several days at a time. It's a rare and cool natural event that shows how rivers can interact with each other.

Images for kids

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  People jump from the SR 106 bridge into the Dead River in Leeds