The Branch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Branch |
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The Branch
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Cheshire |
| City | Keene |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of Otter Brook and Minnewawa Brook Keene 558 ft (170 m) 42°54′53″N 72°14′15″W / 42.91472°N 72.23750°W |
| River mouth | Ashuelot River Keene 463 ft (141 m) 42°55′8″N 72°16′43″W / 42.91889°N 72.27861°W |
| Length | 2.6 mi (4.2 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Branch is a short but important river located entirely within the city of Keene. Keene is found in southwestern New Hampshire, United States. Even though it's only about 2.6-mile-long (4.2 km), it plays a role in the local water system. The Branch is a tributary of the Ashuelot River. This means it flows into the Ashuelot River. The Ashuelot River then joins the larger Connecticut River, which eventually reaches the ocean at Long Island Sound.
Discovering The Branch River
The Branch river is quite unique because of how it starts. It's formed when two other streams, Otter Brook and Minnewawa Brook, come together. This meeting point is called a confluence.
Where Does It Start?
The Branch begins in Keene, where Otter Brook and Minnewawa Brook meet. Even though The Branch itself is short, Otter Brook is much longer. Because of this, people sometimes used to think of The Branch as just a part of Otter Brook.
Naming the River
For a while, there was some confusion about what to call this river. In 1982, a group called the United States Board on Geographic Names made an official decision. They decided that the river should be named "The Branch". Before this, it was sometimes called "Branch of Ashuelot", "Otter Branch", or even "Otter Brook". This official decision helped everyone agree on its name.
The Branch and Roads
If you were to travel alongside The Branch, you would notice that New Hampshire Route 101 runs right next to it. This road follows the river for its entire length.
