Gunpowder River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gunpowder River |
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Gunpowder River travelling through Loch Raven Reservoir in Towson, Maryland
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| Cities | Middle River, Joppatowne, Towson, Cockeysville, Parkton, Lineboro |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Glen Rock, Pennsylvania |
| River mouth | Chesapeake Bay 0 ft (0 m) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Gunpowder River is a 6.8-mile-long (10.9 km) tidal river in Maryland, United States. It flows into the western part of the famous Chesapeake Bay. This river is special because it's formed when two smaller freshwater rivers meet. These are the Gunpowder Falls (also called "Big Gunpowder Falls") and the Little Gunpowder Falls.
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The Big Gunpowder Falls
The Big Gunpowder Falls is about 56.7 miles (91.2 km) long. It starts in the very southern part of Pennsylvania in York County. From there, it flows mostly southeast through Baltimore County.
It passes by the historic Perry Hall Mansion. The river then reaches Joppatowne. Here, it meets the Little Gunpowder Falls and the Bird River. After passing an Amtrak train bridge, it officially becomes the "Gunpowder River."
Long ago, the nearby town of Old Joppa was an important seaport. It was a rival to the port of Baltimore during colonial American times. However, the Gunpowder River became filled with silt over time. This made it hard for large ships to reach the harbor.
The Little Gunpowder Falls
As its name suggests, the Little Gunpowder Falls is smaller than the Big Gunpowder Falls. It is about 25.2-mile (40.6 km) long. For much of its length, it forms the border between eastern Baltimore County and western Harford County.
The main office for the Gunpowder Falls State Park is located in Harford County. It sits right along the bank of the Little Gunpowder Falls, in a historic area called Jerusalem Mill Village. The rest of the border between Baltimore and Harford counties is formed by the main Gunpowder River. This is the tidal part of the Chesapeake Bay where the two Gunpowder rivers join.
Fun Things to Do
Both the Gunpowder Falls and Little Gunpowder Falls flow through areas with hills, farms, and forests. In fact, there are four different state parks that make up Gunpowder Falls State Park. This is the largest state park in Maryland.
The Gunpowder Falls river is dammed in two places. These dams create large reservoirs that provide drinking water for the Baltimore metropolitan area. These reservoirs are called Prettyboy Reservoir and Loch Raven Reservoir.
By the time the Gunpowder River reaches the Chesapeake Bay, it's no longer a quiet country river. It flows under Interstate 95 and passes many suburban towns. Even so, the Gunpowder State Park near the Chesapeake Bay can still feel like a peaceful, remote place.
Both streams flow over the Fall Line. This is a natural boundary that separates the Piedmont Plateau from the Atlantic Coastal Plain. This area creates exciting whitewater rapids. When the water levels are high enough, kayakers and canoeists can enjoy Class III rapids.
Smaller Streams (Tributaries)
Many smaller streams flow into the Gunpowder River. These are called tributaries. They include:
- Minebank Run
- Long Green Creek
- Sweathouse Run
- Haystack Branch
- Jennifer Branch
- Bean Run
- Foster Branch
- Taylor Creek
- Broad Run
