Miles River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Miles River |
|
|---|---|
Miles River at Newcomb in June 2008.
|
|
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Maryland |
| Region | Talbot County |
| Municipality | Newcomb |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 12.9 mi (20.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 54 sq mi (140 km2) |
The Miles River is a 12.9-mile (20.8 km) long river located in Talbot County, Maryland. It is a branch, or tributary, of the Eastern Bay. This means the Miles River is part of the larger Chesapeake Bay watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a specific river, lake, or bay.
Where the Name Comes From
The Miles River was originally known as the St. Miles River. Its name comes from Saint Michael. Saint Michael was considered the "patron saint" of Colonial Maryland. A patron saint is like a special protector or guide. Colonial Maryland was the name for Maryland when it was one of the original American colonies.
Exploring the Miles River Area
The land area that drains into the Miles River is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 54 square miles (140 square kilometers). Of this area, about 12 square miles (31 square kilometers) is open water, which means 22% of the watershed is water.
Most of the land in the Miles River watershed is used for farming. About 22 square miles (57 square kilometers), or 52% of the land, is used for agriculture. This means that farms are the main type of land use in the area around the river.
