Souhegan River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Souhegan River |
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The Souhegan River in Wilton, NH
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Towns | New Ipswich, Greenville, Wilton, Milford, Amherst, Merrimack |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of West Branch and South Branch New Ipswich 927 ft (283 m) 42°43′52″N 71°50′47″W / 42.73111°N 71.84639°W |
| River mouth | Merrimack River Merrimack 95 ft (29 m) 42°51′41″N 71°29′14″W / 42.86139°N 71.48722°W |
| Length | 33.8 mi (54.4 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Souhegan River is a river in New Hampshire, United States. It flows into the larger Merrimack River. The Souhegan River is about 33.8 miles (54.4 km) (54.4 km) long. Its watershed, which is the area of land where all the water drains into the river, covers about 171 sq mi (440 km2) (443 km²).
The river starts in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. This is where its two main parts, the South Branch and West Branch, join together. From there, the Souhegan River flows northeast.
It passes through towns like Greenville and Wilton. After Wilton, the valley around the river gets wider. The river then flows through Milford and the southern part of Amherst. Finally, it reaches the town of Merrimack. Near the center of Merrimack, the river goes over Wildcat Falls before joining the Merrimack River.
What the River is Used For
The Souhegan River is important for many reasons. People use its water for drinking supplies. It also helps create a small amount of hydropower, which is electricity made from moving water. Many people enjoy the river for fun activities like fishing or kayaking.
The river is home to many different plants and animals. There are 28 types of plants and animals living in the river's watershed that are considered threatened or endangered species. This means they are at risk of disappearing forever. About 35,000 people also live in this same area.
Because it's so important, the Souhegan River is part of the New Hampshire Rivers Management Protection Program. This program helps protect and manage the state's rivers.
The River's Name
The name "Souhegan" comes from the language of the Algonquin Native American people. It means "waiting and watching place."
Long ago, Algonquin fishermen would build special traps called weirs across the fast-moving parts of the river. Then, they would wait and watch for fish to swim into these traps. They caught fish like salmon, alewives, sturgeon, and eels.
A local school, Souhegan High School, is named after the river. This school serves the towns of Amherst and Mont Vernon. The name of Skowhegan, Maine, also comes from the same Algonquin word.
