West Branch Ellis River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Branch Ellis River |
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Country | United States |
Physical characteristics | |
Main source | Maine |
The West Branch Ellis River is a cool river in western Maine, a state in the United States. It's about 13.5 miles (21.7 kilometers) long. This river is like a smaller helper stream, called a tributary, that flows into a bigger river. Its water eventually reaches the huge Atlantic Ocean!
Contents
What is the West Branch Ellis River?
The West Branch Ellis River is an important part of the natural water system in Maine. It starts high up in the mountains and flows downhill, joining other rivers on its journey.
Where Does the River Start?
This river begins its journey north of a place called Baldpate Mountain. Imagine water trickling down from the mountain, gathering together to form a small stream. That's how the West Branch Ellis River starts!
Where Does the River Go?
From Baldpate Mountain, the river flows towards the east. It travels into the town of Andover. Here, it meets up with the main Ellis River. This meeting point is southeast of Andover's town center.
The River's Journey to the Ocean
Once the West Branch Ellis River joins the main Ellis River, their combined waters continue to flow. The Ellis River then flows into the Androscoggin River. Finally, the Androscoggin River empties into the Kennebec River. The Kennebec River is a very large river that eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. So, a drop of water from the West Branch Ellis River could travel all the way to the ocean!
Roads Along the River
For most of its path, the West Branch Ellis River flows alongside a road called Upton Road. This road is useful because it connects Andover with Maine Route 5. It also links up with Maine Route 26 in the town of Upton. So, if you were driving on Upton Road, you'd be following the river for a long time!