Suncook River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Suncook River |
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The Suncook River in the center of Suncook, NH
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| Counties | Belknap, Merrimack |
| Towns | Gilmanton, Barnstead, Pittsfield, Chichester, Epsom, Pembroke, Allenstown |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Crystal Lake Gilmanton Ironworks 623 ft (190 m) 43°26′9″N 71°18′13″W / 43.43583°N 71.30361°W |
| River mouth | Merrimack River Suncook 195 ft (59 m) 43°7′39″N 71°27′50″W / 43.12750°N 71.46389°W |
| Length | 35.7 mi (57.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Suncook River is a river in central New Hampshire, United States. It is about 35.7-mile-long (57.5 km). The Suncook River flows into the Merrimack River, which then goes to the Gulf of Maine.
River's Journey
The Suncook River starts at Crystal Lake in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. The village of Gilmanton Ironworks is right where the lake flows out.
The river then flows south for about two miles. It reaches the Suncook Lakes (Upper and Lower) in Barnstead. After the lakes, the river goes through Center Barnstead.
Next, the Suncook River enters Pittsfield. The main part of Pittsfield village is built around an old dam on the river. This dam was built in the 1800s.
The river keeps flowing south through Chichester and Epsom. It then forms the border between the towns of Pembroke and Allenstown.
Near the end of its journey, the Suncook River drops 70 feet (21 m) in just 0.5 miles (0.80 km). This natural drop created strong waterpower. This power helped the village of Suncook grow into a busy mill town.
The 2006 Flood and River Change
On May 16, 2006, the Suncook River had a huge flood. This happened because of very heavy rain, the most in at least 70 years. More than 8 inches (200 mm) of rain fell in three days near Concord, New Hampshire.
The river rose to flood levels. The water backed up behind an old mill dam. This caused the river to cut a new, shorter path. This new path was about a mile long. It formed very quickly, moving at 25–50 meters per hour in the town of Epsom.
Two older river paths, around Bear Island, became dry. This new river course was the biggest change to a river channel in New Hampshire since maps started being made in the early 1900s.
Years later, on September 3, 2018, work began to make the Suncook River's new course stable. This helps prevent more big changes.
Artistic Inspiration
The Suncook River has even inspired art! In 1934, a composer named Alan Hovhaness wrote a piece of music. It was for cello and piano. He called it Legend of the Sunkook Valley. Hovhaness spent time in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, when he was young.
