Little River (Shetucket River tributary) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Little River
The Little River at Hanover Reservoir.
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
Towns	Hampton, Scotland, Canterbury, Sprague, Norwich
Physical characteristics
Main source	Hampton Reservoir, Hampton 41°29′33″N 72°01′58″W / 41.4925°N 72.0328°W / 41.4925; -72.0328
River mouth	Shetucket River, Occum, Norwich 41°21′15″N 72°01′30″W / 41.3542°N 72.0250°W / 41.3542; -72.0250
Length	21.7 miles (34.9 km)
Width	Minimum width: 12 feet (3.7 m) Average width: 64 feet (20 m) Maximum width: 240 feet (73 m)
Basin features
Basin size	30 square miles (78 km2)
Population	8,000
Tributaries	Left: Cedar Swamp Brook Right: Downing Brook, Peck Brook
Waterbodies	Hanover Reservoir, Papermill Pond, Versailles Pond
Bridges	Route 97, US 6, Route 14, Route 138

The Little River is a cool river in Connecticut. It flows through several towns. These towns include Hampton, Canterbury, Scotland, and Sprague.

The river starts at the Hampton Reservoir in northern Hampton. From there, it winds its way south. It eventually joins the Shetucket River. This happens where the towns of Norwich, Sprague, and Lisbon, CT meet.

About the Little River

The Little River is about 21.7 miles (35 kilometers) long. It's not a huge river, but it's an important part of the local environment. The area it drains, called its basin, is about 30 square miles (78 square kilometers). Around 8,000 people live in this area.

The river's width can change a lot. It can be as narrow as 12 feet (3.7 meters). But it can also spread out to 240 feet (73 meters) wide in some spots. On average, it's about 64 feet (19.5 meters) wide.

Where the Water Comes From

The Little River gets water from a few smaller streams. On its left side, it has a stream called Cedar Swamp Brook. On its right side, it gets water from Downing Brook and Peck Brook.

The river also flows through some larger bodies of water. These include the Hanover Reservoir, Papermill Pond, and Versailles Pond. These places are important for the river's flow and the wildlife around it.

Bridges and Crossings

Many roads and trails cross over the Little River as it flows through Connecticut. These crossings help people travel around the area. The entire river is located within the state of Connecticut.

Here is a list of some of the places where the Little River is crossed:

County	Town	Crossing Name	Coordinates
Windham	Hampton	Airline State Park Trail	41°49′20″N 72°03′25″W / 41.8223°N 72.0570°W / 41.8223; -72.0570
		Kenyon Rd.	41°49′13″N 72°03′24″W / 41.8204°N 72.0568°W / 41.8204; -72.0568
		Route 97	41°48′23″N 72°03′22″W / 41.8064°N 72.0562°W / 41.8064; -72.0562
		Old Kings Highway	41°48′14″N 72°03′28″W / 41.8039°N 72.0578°W / 41.8039; -72.0578
		Hammond Hill Rd.	41°47′35″N 72°03′02″W / 41.7930°N 72.0506°W / 41.7930; -72.0506
		N. Bigelow Rd.	41°46′49″N 72°02′42″W / 41.7802°N 72.0450°W / 41.7802; -72.0450
		E. Old Route 6	41°46′45″N 72°02′39″W / 41.7791°N 72.0443°W / 41.7791; -72.0443
		US 6	41°46′18″N 72°02′37″W / 41.7718°N 72.0436°W / 41.7718; -72.0436
		Drain St.	41°46′11″N 72°02′40″W / 41.7698°N 72.0444°W / 41.7698; -72.0444
		Sand Hill Rd.	41°45′33″N 72°02′57″W / 41.7593°N 72.0493°W / 41.7593; -72.0493
		Windham Rd.	41°44′36″N 72°03′09″W / 41.7432°N 72.0526°W / 41.7432; -72.0526
	Scotland	None
	Canterbury	Route 14	41°42′09″N 72°03′17″W / 41.7024°N 72.0548°W / 41.7024; -72.0548
		Miller Goodwin Con.	41°41′36″N 72°02′57″W / 41.6932°N 72.0492°W / 41.6932; -72.0492
		Woodchuck Hill Rd.	41°40′13″N 72°03′14″W / 41.6702°N 72.0538°W / 41.6702; -72.0538
New London	Sprague	Parkwood Rd.	41°38′50″N 72°03′38″W / 41.6472°N 72.0605°W / 41.6472; -72.0605
		Potash Hill Rd.	41°38′21″N 72°03′28″W / 41.6391°N 72.0578°W / 41.6391; -72.0578
		Route 138	41°36′54″N 72°02′32″W / 41.6150°N 72.0421°W / 41.6150; -72.0421
		Providence and Worcester RR	41°36′50″N 72°02′35″W / 41.6140°N 72.0430°W / 41.6140; -72.0430
		Riverside Rd.	41°35′59″N 72°02′44″W / 41.5998°N 72.0456°W / 41.5998; -72.0456
		Main St./Inland Rd.
	Norwich	None/ End of River	41°35′41″N 72°02′51″W / 41.5947°N 72.0474°W / 41.5947; -72.0474