Pee Dee River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pee Dee River |
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| River | |
 Fishing in February, Pee Dee River, Yauhannah, South Carolina
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| Name origin: Pee Dee tribe | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| States | North Carolina, South Carolina |
| Source | Confluence of Uwharrie River and Yadkin River |
| - elevation | 272.3 ft (83 m) |
| - coordinates | 35°22′51″N 80°3′29″W / 35.38083°N 80.05806°W |
| Mouth | Winyah Bay |
| - elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| - coordinates | 34°43′16″N 79°52′54″W / 34.72111°N 79.88167°W |
| Length | 232 mi (373 km) |
The Pee Dee River is a major river that flows through North Carolina and South Carolina in the United States. It's also known as the Great Pee Dee River. This river starts high up in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina.
The upper part of the river has a different name: the Yadkin River. Once it joins with the Uwharrie River, it becomes known as the Pee Dee River. The river is very important for the areas it flows through.
About the Pee Dee River
The Pee Dee River gets its name from the Native American Pee Dee people. This tribe lived along the river long ago. The Pee Dee region in South Carolina is also named after either the tribe or the river itself.
Its Journey and Uses
The Pee Dee River flows for about 232 miles (373 kilometers). It starts in North Carolina and makes its way southeast. Finally, it empties into Winyah Bay in South Carolina, which then connects to the Atlantic Ocean.
Along its path, the river has several dams. These dams are built for two main reasons:
- To help control floods, protecting nearby towns and farms.
- To generate hydroelectric power, which is electricity made from the force of moving water.
Early Explorers
The first Europeans believed to have explored part of the Pee Dee River were from a group sent by Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1521. They were explorers from Spain. They gave the river a Spanish name: "Rio de San Juan Bautista," which means "River of St. John the Baptist."
See also
In Spanish: Río Pee Dee para niños
