Little Kanawha River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Kanawha River |
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The Little Kanawha River just upstream of its mouth in Parkersburg
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| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Upshur County, West Virginia |
| River mouth | Ohio River, Parkersburg, West Virginia |
| Length | 169 mi (272 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,320 sq mi (6,000 km2) |
The Little Kanawha River is a river in western West Virginia, United States. It flows for about 169 miles (269 km). This river is a tributary, which means it flows into a larger river. The Little Kanawha joins the Ohio River. From there, its waters eventually reach the Mississippi River.
The river's water comes from a large area called a watershed. This watershed covers about 2,320 square miles (6,009 km²). It is located on the Allegheny Plateau, a high, flat area that was not covered by glaciers. In the past, the Little Kanawha River was very important for business. People used it to transport logs and oil.
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The River's Journey: Where Does the Little Kanawha Flow?
The Little Kanawha River starts in southern Upshur County. This is about 20 miles (32 km) south of Buckhannon. From its start, the river takes a winding path. It generally flows towards the west-northwest.
The river travels through many counties. These include Lewis, Braxton, Gilmer, Calhoun, Wirt, and Wood Counties. Along its way, it passes several towns. Some of these towns are Burnsville, Glenville, Grantsville, Elizabeth, and Parkersburg. The river finally meets the Ohio River in Parkersburg.
Burnsville Lake: A Man-Made Feature on the River
About 3 miles (5 km) upstream from Burnsville, there is a large dam. The United States Army Corps of Engineers built this dam. It creates a lake called Burnsville Lake. This lake was finished in 1976. It cost about $56.2 million to build.
Smaller Rivers Joining the Little Kanawha
Many smaller rivers and streams flow into the Little Kanawha River. These are called tributaries. They add more water to the main river as it flows.
Some of the important tributaries include:
- The Right Fork Little Kanawha River (near Lewis and Braxton counties)
- Saltlick Creek (in Braxton County)
- Sand Fork (in Gilmer County)
- Steer Creek (in Calhoun County)
- The West Fork Little Kanawha River (in Wirt County)
- The Hughes River (also in Wirt County, this is its largest tributary)
- Walker Creek (in Wood County)
There is also a small stream near Grantsville called the Bull River. Even though it's called a "river," it's actually quite small. It's similar in size to many other small streams that flow into the Little Kanawha.
What's in a Name? The Little Kanawha's Story
The Little Kanawha River got its name because it is smaller than the nearby Kanawha River. It's like calling a younger sibling "Little [Name]".
Throughout history, the Little Kanawha River has been known by several other names. The Geographic Names Information System lists some of these older names:
- Fishing Creek
- Little Canawha River
- Little Kanahaway River
- Little Kanawah River
- Little Kenawah
- Nau-mis-sip-pia
- Newmissipi
- O-mom-go-how-ce-pe
