Elizabeth River (Virginia) facts for kids
The Elizabeth River is a 6-mile (10 km) long tidal estuary in southeast Virginia, United States. It's like an arm of the big Hampton Roads harbor, which is part of the Chesapeake Bay. You can find it between the cities of Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. This river is super important for the Hampton Roads harbor. Many smaller rivers and streams flow into it.
The Elizabeth River is also a key part of the Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway is like an inland highway for boats. It offers a safe path from the ocean all the way to Florida for both commercial ships and recreational boats.
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River's Name and Early History
The Elizabeth River got its name from the Jamestown colonists in the early 1600s. They named it after Princess Elizabeth Stuart. She was the daughter of King James I of England. Her brother was King Charles I.
When Captain Christopher Newport and his ships first explored the Hampton Roads area in 1607, they were looking for a way to the west. They sailed up the largest river, which they named the James River. They wanted a safe place away from other European countries like Spain. Their settlement at Jamestown was about 35 miles (56 km) inland. People started settling along the Elizabeth River a few years later.
Elizabeth River in Wars
American Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, Lord Dunmore and the British Army sailed up the Elizabeth River. They landed in Norfolk. The British and American armies fought at the Battle of Great Bridge on December 9, 1775. When the British lost, Lord Dunmore and his army went onto four British Navy ships.
These ships patrolled the Elizabeth River waterfront in Norfolk. On New Year's Day 1776, they started shelling Norfolk. This event became known as the Burning of Norfolk.
War of 1812
In the War of 1812, two forts on opposite sides of the Elizabeth River helped protect the area. These were Fort Norfolk in Norfolk and Fort Nelson in Portsmouth. Their job was to stop the British from attacking Norfolk or Portsmouth.
Neither fort saw direct fighting during this war. However, soldiers from Fort Norfolk helped reinforce Craney Island. This island is at the mouth of the Elizabeth River. These soldiers took part in the Battle of Craney Island.
River's Geography
The main part of the Elizabeth River estuary is about 6 miles (10 km) long. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) wide at its mouth. The river has three main branches, all affected by tides. These are the Eastern, Southern, and Western branches. They stretch from 7 to 14 miles (11 to 23 km) into nearby communities. The Western and Southern branches get some of their water from the Great Dismal Swamp.
Why the River is Important
The Elizabeth River and its branches are very important for military and commercial shipping. They serve the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake. Chesapeake was formed in 1963 when the city of South Norfolk joined with Norfolk County. These three cities surround the Elizabeth River and its branches.
The Elizabeth River is home to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. This is the oldest and largest naval shipyard in the United States. It was founded in 1767 as The Gosport Shipyard. It is still used today. It survived both the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars, even after fires were set there during those conflicts.
The river is used for both business and fun activities. The Intracoastal Waterway connects to the Hampton Roads area through the Elizabeth River. This makes the river very important for trade and the U.S. military.
Environmental Challenges
The Elizabeth River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. It has its own serious pollution problems that also affect the Bay's health. Over time, many industrial sites along the river caused pollution. These included dry docks, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, processing plants, and sewage and storm water discharge. All of these hurt the river's health.
In 1983, the EPA said the Elizabeth River was one of the most polluted bodies of water in the entire Chesapeake Bay area. As of 2011, it was still one of the most polluted rivers on the U.S. East Coast. Contaminated dirt at the bottom of the river created "toxic hot spots." For example, a 35-acre area in the Southern Branch at Money Point was almost completely dead. The river bottom there had almost no life. Creosote, a harmful chemical, was dumped there and also came from a big fire in 1963. This polluted the river's dirt, which was up to five feet thick in some places.
In 1995, Virginia made an agreement to help the river. This was after the Chesapeake Bay Program called the Elizabeth River system a "Region of Concern" in 1993. By 2003, a report called "State of the River 2003" showed the pollution. It highlighted the contaminated dirt in the Southern Branch and other toxins. Some of these toxins caused cancer in fish.
Efforts to clean the river began in the 1990s. By 2003, bald eagles were returning to the river area. In 2008, another report showed that most of the river was not safe for swimming. But it also showed positive signs of improving nutrient levels in Virginia compared to other parts of the Chesapeake Bay.
In 2009, a pilot project cleaned up an area at Money Point. They removed the toxic dirt and replaced it with clean sand. They also added plants and artificial oyster reefs. By 2010, at least 17 types of fish and shellfish were found in this area. Before, almost nothing could live there.
In 2011, a bigger project started to remove more toxic dirt near Money Point. Industries along the river are also helping. They are restoring wetlands and oyster reefs. This is one of the largest restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay area.
River Crossings
It's always been a challenge to balance shipping with land transportation across the river. Both are very important for the region.
Cars cross the main part of the river using the Downtown Tunnel and the Midtown Tunnel. There are many other bridges for cars and trains over the Eastern, Southern, and Western branches. These bridges are of different ages and sizes. Many of them have parts that can open to let boats pass, like bascule or swing-type bridges.
The city of Chesapeake has the most bridges to deal with. It has crossings over all three branches for both trains and highways. The city, VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation), and the railroads share responsibility for these bridges. In November 2012, the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge (SNJB) opened. This bridge connects Elm Avenue in Portsmouth to Poindexter Street in Chesapeake. It uses EZ-Pass transponders or sends bills based on photos of license plates for payment.
