Fore River (Massachusetts) facts for kids
The Weymouth Fore River is a small bay or estuary located in eastern Massachusetts. It's a key part of the Massachusetts Bay watershed, which is like a giant funnel that collects all the water from rain and snowmelt in a specific area and channels it into a larger body of water.
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About the Weymouth Fore River
The Weymouth Fore River is a special type of waterway called an estuary. This means it's where a river meets the sea, mixing fresh water from the land with salty ocean water. It's a very important place for many plants and animals.
Where Does It Flow?
The river starts where two smaller streams, the Monatiquot River and Smelt Brook, join together in an area called Weymouth Landing in Braintree. This joining point is called a confluence.
From there, the Weymouth Fore River acts as a natural border between Braintree and Weymouth. It flows northeast for about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) and then north for another 0.5 miles (0.8 km). As it continues, the river gets much wider and turns west-northwest.
Later, the river's western edge reaches Quincy, near the old Fore River Shipyard. It then turns north-northeast for about 1.0 mile (1.6 km), passing through an area with many businesses. Here, you'll find the Fore River Bridge, a special lift bridge that carries Massachusetts Route 3A between Quincy and Weymouth.
Just a bit further, the Town River joins the Weymouth Fore River near Germantown. The river then gets even wider, almost 1 mile (1.6 km) across, as it travels its final 2.0 miles (3.2 km) northeast before flowing into Hingham Bay.
Fun Things to Do!
There are several great spots along the Weymouth Fore River where you can enjoy the outdoors:
- Smith Beach and Watson Park are in East Braintree, located on the northwest side of the river near where it starts.
- Wessagussett Beach is on the southeast side in North Weymouth, closer to where the river meets Hingham Bay.
- You can also visit the United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum in Quincy Point. Here, you can explore the USS Salem, a real heavy cruiser ship that is open for visitors to see!
Businesses Along the River
The area around the former shipyard is home to many important businesses. These companies use the river for shipping and other activities:
- In Braintree:
- Citgo Petroleum Corporation: This company handles the storage and distribution of oil and gasoline.
- In Quincy:
- Daniel J. Quirk, Inc.: A facility for storing and distributing cars and other vehicles.
- Jay Cashman, Inc.: Provides services for heavy construction and marine equipment.
- Massachusetts Water Resources Authority: This facility processes sewage sludge, turning it into pellets.
- Quincy Bay Terminal Company: Offers freight rail services that connect to CSXT South Braintree.
- Twin Rivers Technologies LP: Produces oleochemicals (chemicals made from fats and oils) and biofuels.
- In Weymouth:
- Exelon Corporation Fore River Generating Station: A power plant that generates electricity using natural gas and oil.
