Wateree River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wateree River |
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Wateree River from the Palmetto Trail near Eastover, South Carolina
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The Wateree River
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 Location of the mouth of Wateree River in South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| States | South Carolina |
| Counties | Edgefield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Sumter, Richland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Catawba River Liberty Hill, South Carolina 223 ft (68 m) 34°28′04″N 80°53′17″W / 34.46778°N 80.88806°W |
| River mouth | Santee River Fort Motte, South Carolina 75 ft (23 m) 33°44′39″N 80°37′09″W / 33.74417°N 80.61917°W |
| Length | 75 mi (121 km)} |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Wateree → Santee → Atlantic Ocean |
| River system | Catawba River |
The Wateree River is a river in central South Carolina, United States. It is about 75 miles (120 km) long. This river is a tributary of the Santee River, which eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The river was named after the Wateree people, a Native American tribe. They moved to this area from western North Carolina. The Wateree tribe lived here until the early 1700s. During the Yamasee War, they were displaced by English settlers. The remaining Wateree people joined the larger Catawba people tribe.
River's Journey
The Wateree River is actually a continuation of the Catawba River. The Catawba River starts in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Long ago, different parts of this same river had different names, like Catawba and Wateree. This was because different groups of settlers named them.
Today, the name changes from Catawba to Wateree where Wateree Creek flows into Lake Wateree. Lake Wateree is a man-made lake. It was created by the Wateree Hydro Station Dam. This dam is a hydroelectric project built by Duke Energy in the 1900s. It is located in Kershaw County, South Carolina.
The Wateree River generally flows south. It passes through Kershaw County. It also forms the border between Richland and Sumter counties. The river flows past the town of Camden. Finally, it joins the Congaree River to form the Santee River. This meeting point is about 35 miles (55 km) southeast of Columbia.
River Crossings
Here is a list of bridges and other crossings over the Wateree River:
- US Route 1 and US 601 in Camden and Lugoff
- A railroad bridge in Camden
- Interstate 20 in Camden
- Garner's Ferry Road (US 378) near Stateburg
- Two railroad bridges near where the Wateree River meets the Congaree River. This is close to Eastover.
See also
In Spanish: Río Wateree para niños
